The Herbert brothers are now all converged in Southern California, with two playing for the Los Angeles Chargers and one navigating his medical career at UCLA. Quarterback Justin Herbert, who two years ago surpassed Peyton Manning in yardage through a player's first five NFL seasons, is joined by his older brother Mitch, a 30-year-old orthopedic surgery resident, and their youngest brother Patrick, 25, who recently signed with the Chargers' practice squad.
For now, Mitch, who is in his second year of residency at UCLA, and Justin, 28, share a two-bedroom apartment on the Westside. However, the living arrangement is set to change soon. Justin, engaged to singer Madison Beer, plans to move out, with Patrick taking over his room. Mitch’s girlfriend, Isabella, also resides with them. Despite their demanding schedules, the brothers make the most of their shared time, often enjoying movies together, from “Inception” to “Step Brothers,” and purposely avoiding too much football talk. Mitch, a former Montana State receiver, noted that Justin “has enough of that in his day to day.”
Life with an NFL quarterback, according to Mitch, is surprisingly orderly. He described Justin as meticulous, stating that his closet is color-coded with everything in its place. Mitch, in contrast, admitted his own closet is not nearly as organized, and any dish left in the sink is probably his.
Despite Justin’s prominence, Mitch said his brother doesn't seem to seek the spotlight. While Justin often attempts to remain inconspicuous by wearing a hat or pulling up his hoodie, his 6-foot-6 frame, a height shared in varying degrees by his brothers (Mitch is 6-4, Patrick is 6-5), tends to give him away. The surreal nature of Justin's fame is still something Mitch grapples with, from seeing his face on giant billboards to observing a multitude of No. 10 Herbert jerseys at SoFi Stadium. He recalled growing up as a dedicated Oregon Ducks fan, a legacy from their grandfather who played football for the university, and how the volume of Justin's jerseys in the stands at Oregon games took a long time to get used to. “Nowadays it’s on a whole other level,” Mitch said, noting the omnipresent ads and jerseys at SoFi still don't quite feel real.
Sometimes, Justin’s fame surfaces in unexpected ways. Mitch and Isabella were walking their mini-goldendoodle, Benny, near their apartment when they encountered another dog owner. Upon learning the other puppy’s name was Herbert, Isabella inquired why. The owner explained her boyfriend was a big Justin Herbert fan. Isabella then revealed Mitch was Justin’s brother, leading to an amusing reaction from the woman.
Mitch recognized Justin's athletic gifts early on, recalling a walk-off home run at age 12 in the Babe Ruth World Series and qualifying for track nationals in the softball throw. The moment Mitch felt certain his younger brother would “play on Sundays” was when Justin, as a true freshman, threw for 489 yards in a 54-35 win over Arizona State.
Justin’s NFL journey began with an unusual turn. During a Week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, slated starter Tyrod Taylor was sidelined after a Chargers doctor accidentally punctured his lung while attempting a pain-killing injection. This sudden turn of events thrust rookie Justin Herbert into the starting role. Mitch, then a first-year medical student at Columbia in New York, was studying for a biochemistry exam when he received a flood of messages about his brother’s unexpected debut. He frantically tuned in on his iPad, trying to suppress his excitement in the library as Justin put on an outstanding performance, nearly securing a victory.
Mitch, now working directly with Chargers doctors this season, offers a unique perspective on his brother's physical resilience. Justin played much of last season with a broken left hand, an injury Mitch sees regularly in his orthopedic residency. Observing his brother’s pain tolerance, Mitch remarked that Justin is “much tougher than I am.” Mitch's dedication to supporting his brother's career is evident; even after demanding 24-hour shifts ending Sunday mornings at 8 a.m., he would catch a few hours of sleep before heading to SoFi Stadium to watch Justin play. Now, with both Justin and Patrick at practice, and Mitch working alongside the team's medical staff, the Chargers are looking to advance beyond the playoffs for the first time since 2019.
