Chargers fans in disbelief over Justin Herbert's new haircut: "Aura gone," "Bro needs an actual barber"

Since Jim Harbaugh arrived in the offseason, Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers have gone through several changes. Their notoriously underwhelming defense, which ranked 23rd in the league in points allowed per game in 2023, has shot to the top of the charts this season, giving up only 15.7 points per game.

The changes haven't only come on defense. The previously pass-heavy offense has pivoted to a run-first defense, with Harbaugh reducing the load on Herbert's arm but increasing the quarterback's use of his legs.

The aesthetic changes haven't been only on the field. During his media availability on Wednesday, Herbert debuted his new haircut. The quarterback swapped his long locks for a modest, blue-collar hairstyle, akin to the Chargers' new play style under Harbaugh. He revealed that he got it at a Sports Clip store.

Fans on social media weren't too impressed with Herbert's new hairdo. Some poked fun, while others critiqued the quarterback's decision to chop off his hair:

Some fans chuckled about him getting a haircut at a Sports Clip rather than an upscale salon:

"Justin Herbert getting his haircut at sport clips is probably the least surprising thing I’ve ever heard about him" - Wrote @FBallAnalysisYT

"My QB makes hundreds of millions of dollars and gets a 20 dollar haircut. Unreal." - Remarked @starnesjaret15

"Quite possibly the worst advertisement for sports clips of all time" - Claimed @ldr_v2

Justin Herbert stats: A season of change for Chargers QB

While fans weren't too impressed with his change of haircut, most are pretty impressed with how he has handled the change in the system he plays in. In the first four years of his career, Justin Herbert was given the license to be a gunslinger and try to win games with his arm.

Before this season, he averaged 39.06 pass attempts per game. However, that number has come down to 28 this year. On the flip side, his rush attempts have increased from 3.61 in his first four seasons to 4.17 in Harbaugh's debut campaign in LA.

The change was likely tricky to process but has turned the Chargers' tide. They are 8-4 and need only two more wins from their next five games to match their best record in the Herbert era. LA will likely make it to the playoffs but isn't viewed as a Super Bowl contender.

However, with an elite defense and a quarterback who can win the game with his arm if needed, they have the tools to win it all.