Justin Herbert wanted one thing after beating the Eagles. Space.
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The Chargers had just escaped with a season-saving 22-19 overtime win on Monday night. Los Angeles was celebrating. Justin Herbert was searching for teammates. Instead, he found ESPN's Laura Rutledge.
Rutledge moved in for the customary on-field interview. Herbert clearly wasn't in the mood.
"I'm trying to celebrate with my team," Herbert said as he tried to slide past. Rutledge pushed back politely and got a few clipped answers before Joe Buck jumped in to wrap things up. "Alright, now he can go celebrate with his teammates. Thank you, Laura. Good job."
The moment blew up online. Some viewers thought Herbert came off as dismissive, noting that star quarterbacks rarely get to skip the camera. The NFL requires players to be available to the media after games, and postgame hits with sideline reporters fall under that umbrella.
I’m sorry I thought Justin Herbert was extremely rude to ESPN’s Laura Rutledge.
You know the drill dude, you’re the QB. Big win for the Chargers, gut wrenching loss for the Eagles. pic.twitter.com/BlPrvTfqak
— Alec Nolan (@AlecOnFOX7) December 9, 2025
Others defended Herbert. Big win. Big adrenaline. Let the guy breathe.
Rutledge's ESPN colleague Lindsey Thiry praised her handling of it, calling her "a pro." And she was, especially on a night when everything around her was chaos.
.@LauraRutledge - you are a PRO!!!!
🙌🙌🙌
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) December 9, 2025
The game swung wildly. The Eagles tied it late. They pushed to the Chargers' 17 in overtime. Then Jalen Hurts fired a tipped interception that sealed it for Los Angeles.
Herbert and the Chargers now sit in the AFC's fifth spot heading into a matchup with the Chiefs. The Eagles, after five turnovers from Hurts, find themselves in a must-win situation against the Raiders next week.
