Hurts or Herbert: Who Is the Better NFL Quarterback?

Hurts or Herbert—which quarterback is better? It is a tough comparison because Jalen Hurts and Justin Herbert win in different ways.

Hurts brings a rare mix of passing, rushing, toughness, and red-zone value for the Philadelphia Eagles. Herbert is known for his arm strength, passing ability, and production with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Their 2025 numbers also show the difference: Herbert threw for more yards, while Hurts added major value as a runner. So, who should you choose? The answer depends on whether you value passing, rushing, efficiency, or winning most.

Quick Answer

If the question is who is the better overall quarterback, the answer depends on what you want from the position.

Jalen Hurts has the stronger dual-threat profile. He can create value through both passing and rushing, which makes him especially dangerous near the goal line and in designed running situations.

Justin Herbert has the edge as a pure passer. His arm talent, pocket passing, deep throws, and ability to produce large passing numbers make him one of the NFL’s most talented throwing quarterbacks.

Who Is Better at a Glance?

Category	Winner
Passing ability	Herbert
Passing volume	Herbert
Rushing ability	Hurts
Rushing touchdowns	Hurts
Dual-threat value	Hurts
Arm strength	Herbert
Pocket passing	Herbert
Red-zone rushing	Hurts
Pure passing upside	Herbert
Overall versatility	Hurts

There is no clear winner in every category. Their games are built differently.

Simple Answer

Choose Hurts for rushing and dual-threat value. Choose Herbert for passing and arm talent.

Jalen Hurts vs Justin Herbert Stats

The numbers help explain why this debate is so interesting.

According to NFL career statistics, through the 2025 season Hurts had 17,891 passing yards, 110 passing touchdowns, and 45 interceptions. Herbert had 24,820 passing yards, 163 passing touchdowns, and 58 interceptions. Herbert has also played more career games.

2025 Passing Comparison

Stat	Jalen Hurts	Justin Herbert
Games	16	16
Passing yards	3,224	3,727
Passing TDs	25	26
Interceptions	6	13
Completion percentage	64.8%	66.4%
Passer rating	98.5	94.1
Rushing yards	421	498
Rushing TDs	8	2

The 2025 numbers show a clear difference in style. Herbert produced more passing yards, while Hurts had the better touchdown-to-interception ratio and added eight rushing touchdowns.

Hurts vs Herbert: Passing Ability

If passing is the main factor, Justin Herbert has the advantage.

Justin Herbert’s Passing

Herbert has the size, arm strength, and passing range to attack every area of the field.

His career statistics through 2025 include:

24,820 passing yards
163 passing touchdowns
58 interceptions
96.3 career passer rating
7.2 yards per attempt

He also produced a 5,014-yard passing season in 2021.

Jalen Hurts’ Passing

Hurts has developed into a much more efficient passer than his early career numbers might suggest.

Through 2025, he had:

17,891 passing yards
110 passing touchdowns
45 interceptions
94.4 career passer rating
7.5 yards per attempt

His 2024 season was particularly efficient, with a 103.7 passer rating.

Passing Winner

Herbert wins for pure passing talent and career passing production.

Hurts is a capable passer, but Herbert’s arm talent and passing volume give him the advantage in this category.

Hurts vs Herbert: Rushing Ability

This category belongs to Jalen Hurts.

Hurts is one of the NFL’s most notable dual-threat quarterbacks. His rushing ability is not simply an emergency option; it is part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive identity.

Hurts as a Runner

Hurts can contribute with:

Designed quarterback runs
Scrambles
Short-yardage runs
Red-zone rushing
Rushing touchdowns
Read-option concepts
Mobility outside the pocket

NFL career statistics show Hurts with more than 3,500 career rushing yards entering the 2026 season.

Herbert as a Runner

Herbert is athletic enough to move outside the pocket and has produced useful rushing numbers.

However, rushing is not the defining part of his game.

Through 2025, Herbert had 1,715 career rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns.

Rushing Winner

Hurts wins clearly.

His rushing ability adds another dimension that defenses must account for on almost every play.

Hurts or Herbert: Playing Style

The biggest difference is how each quarterback creates offensive value.

Jalen Hurts’ Playing Style

Hurts is a dual-threat quarterback.

He can stay in the pocket, throw downfield, extend plays, or become a runner when a defense gives him an opening.

His biggest strengths include:

Mobility
Rushing
Physical toughness
Red-zone production
Play extension
Designed runs
Deep passing
Ball security

Justin Herbert’s Playing Style

Herbert is more pass-focused.

His biggest strengths include:

Arm strength
Pocket passing
Deep throws
Accuracy
Passing volume
Quick decision-making
Ability to make difficult throws
Downfield production

Style Winner

There is no universal winner.

Hurts offers more rushing versatility. Herbert offers more traditional quarterback passing ability.

Hurts vs Herbert: Efficiency

Efficiency is more complicated than simply looking at passing yards.

A quarterback’s efficiency can involve:

Completion percentage
Yards per attempt
Touchdowns
Interceptions
Passer rating
QBR
Third-down performance
Red-zone efficiency
Rushing value

Hurts finished the 2025 season with a 98.5 passer rating, compared with Herbert’s 94.1. Hurts also threw 25 touchdowns against six interceptions, while Herbert threw 26 touchdowns against 13 interceptions.

Efficiency Winner

For the 2025 regular season, Hurts had the better passer rating and fewer interceptions.

That does not mean Herbert is a worse passer. It shows why quarterback evaluation needs more than one statistic.

Hurts vs Herbert: Playoff Performance

This is where the comparison becomes especially interesting.

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles

Hurts has already experienced deep playoff success with Philadelphia.

He led the Eagles to the Super Bowl and became a Super Bowl-winning quarterback with the franchise.

His postseason experience is a major part of his résumé.

Justin Herbert and the Chargers

Herbert has produced strong regular-season passing numbers, but his playoff résumé has not matched Hurts’ level of team success.

That difference matters when the question changes from:

“Who is more talented?”

to:

“Who has accomplished more?”

Playoff Winner

Hurts has the stronger résumé because he has reached the Super Bowl and won it.

Herbert’s individual talent remains obvious, but team success is an important part of quarterback evaluation.

Hurts or Herbert: Arm Strength

Herbert wins this category.

His arm strength allows him to make throws that require velocity and distance.

He can attack deep areas of the field without needing a perfect platform.

Hurts also has a strong arm and can throw deep, but Herbert’s arm talent is one of the defining features of his game.

Why Arm Strength Matters

Arm strength can help a quarterback:

Attack deep coverage
Throw outside the numbers
Fit passes into tight windows
Create explosive plays
Make throws while moving

Hurts or Herbert: Mobility

Hurts has the advantage.

Herbert is mobile for his size, but Hurts creates a much larger part of his offensive value through running.

This difference forces defenses to prepare for an additional threat.

With Hurts, a defense must account for:

Pass → Scramble → Designed Run → Read Option

That makes his mobility particularly valuable.

Hurts vs Herbert: Red-Zone Ability

This category also favors Hurts.

Quarterback rushing becomes extremely valuable near the goal line because the field becomes smaller and defensive coverage becomes tighter.

Hurts can attack the red zone through:

Passing
Scrambling
Designed runs
Quarterback sneaks
Option plays

His rushing touchdown production gives him an advantage over Herbert in this area.

Hurts or Herbert for Fantasy Football?

Fantasy football makes the comparison even more interesting.

Jalen Hurts Fantasy Value

Hurts can score fantasy points through both passing and rushing.

His rushing touchdowns are especially valuable because quarterback rushing scores can create a major fantasy advantage.

He is therefore attractive in:

Redraft leagues
Superflex leagues
Dynasty leagues
Standard fantasy formats

Justin Herbert Fantasy Value

Herbert’s fantasy value is more closely tied to:

Passing yards
Passing touchdowns
Completion volume
Passing efficiency
Rushing production

He can still provide strong fantasy numbers, but his rushing profile is different from Hurts’.

Fantasy Winner

Hurts has the higher rushing-based fantasy ceiling.

Herbert has the stronger pure passing profile.

For many fantasy formats, Hurts’ rushing touchdowns give him the more attractive overall ceiling.

Hurts vs Herbert: Leadership and Intangibles

Quarterback play is not only about statistics.

Leadership, toughness, preparation, decision-making, and confidence also matter.

Jalen Hurts

Hurts has developed a reputation for toughness and leadership within Philadelphia.

His ability to remain effective while contributing as a runner adds to his value.

Justin Herbert

Herbert is widely respected for his physical talent, toughness, and ability to make difficult throws.

His production has remained strong even during difficult stretches for the Chargers.

Who Wins?

This is difficult to measure objectively.

Both quarterbacks have strong leadership qualities, but their leadership styles and team environments are different.

Hurts or Herbert: Team Context

Quarterbacks do not play alone.

Their results are influenced by:

Offensive line
Wide receivers
Running backs
Coaching
Offensive scheme
Defense
Strength of schedule
Injuries
Team depth

Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, whose offense has featured strong rushing and play-action concepts.

Players around him have included stars such as Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith, although NFL rosters change over time.

Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert plays for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers have built their offense around Herbert’s passing ability, while coaching and supporting personnel have changed during his career.

This is why team wins alone should not determine which quarterback is individually better.

Hurts vs Herbert: Career Comparison

Career numbers provide useful context.

Career Category	Jalen Hurts	Justin Herbert
Passing yards	17,891	24,820
Passing TDs	110	163
Interceptions	45	58
Career passer rating	94.4	96.3
Rushing yards	3,500+	1,715
Rushing TDs	Significantly higher	15
Playing style	Dual-threat	Pass-focused
Super Bowl win	Yes	No

Career passing totals favor Herbert partly because he has played more games. Hurts’ rushing production makes his total offensive profile much different.

Who Is Better: Hurts or Herbert?

There are really three answers.

Best Pure Passer

Justin Herbert

His arm strength, passing volume, and career production give him the edge.

Best Dual-Threat Quarterback

Jalen Hurts

His rushing ability changes the way defenses have to play the Eagles.

Best Accomplished Quarterback

Jalen Hurts

His Super Bowl victory gives him a major advantage when evaluating actual team success.

Hurts or Herbert – Final Verdict

If you want the better pure passer, choose Justin Herbert. If you want the quarterback who gives you the most value as both a runner and passer, Jalen Hurts has the stronger case.

Herbert leads the career passing comparison, while Hurts adds significantly more rushing value.

Their 2025 statistics show the same contrast: Herbert threw for more yards, but Hurts had a higher passer rating and more rushing touchdowns.

Overall, Hurts gets the edge for versatility and accomplishments, while Herbert gets the edge for pure passing talent.

FAQs

Who is better, Jalen Hurts or Justin Herbert?

It depends on the criteria. Herbert is the stronger pure passer, while Hurts is the more dangerous dual-threat quarterback and has the stronger championship résumé.

Who has better passing stats, Hurts or Herbert?

Justin Herbert has higher career passing totals. Through 2025, he had 24,820 passing yards and 163 passing touchdowns compared with Hurts’ 17,891 yards and 110 touchdowns.

Who is the better runner, Hurts or Herbert?

Jalen Hurts is clearly the stronger runner. Rushing is a major part of his offensive value, while Herbert is primarily a passing quarterback.

Who has the stronger arm, Hurts or Herbert?

Justin Herbert generally gets the edge for arm strength and deep passing ability.

Who has more rushing touchdowns?

Jalen Hurts has far more rushing touchdown production than Justin Herbert. Rushing touchdowns are one of the biggest differences between their games.

Who is better for fantasy football?

Hurts usually has the stronger fantasy ceiling because he can score through both passing and rushing, particularly with his rushing touchdown production.

Who has had more playoff success?

Jalen Hurts has had more playoff success. He has reached the Super Bowl and won one with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Are Hurts and Herbert similar quarterbacks?

Both are young-era NFL quarterbacks with strong arms and mobility, but their styles differ. Hurts is a true dual-threat quarterback, while Herbert’s game is more heavily built around passing.

Conclusion

The Hurts or Herbert debate depends on what you value most from an NFL quarterback. Justin Herbert has the advantage in pure passing, arm talent, and career passing production.

Jalen Hurts brings greater rushing value, dual-threat ability, red-zone impact, and a stronger championship résumé.

Their 2025 numbers reinforce that difference: Herbert produced more passing yards, while Hurts combined efficient passing with eight rushing touchdowns.

Neither player wins every category. For versatility and accomplishments, Hurts gets the edge; for pure passing talent, Herbert remains the better choice.