NFL fines Steelers player for dirty hit on Chargers QB Justin Herbert

The Los Angeles Chargers are nearly a week removed from their Sunday night beatdown of the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers. The Chargers did not leave the contest unscathed. Quarterback Justin Herbert appeared to come up limping in the second quarter and needed his ankles taped before the next offensive series.

The play where Herbert was banged up came on a sack from Steelers edge rusher Nick Herbig. Herbert stepped up in the pocket and started to scramble as Herbig looped around from behind him and used a blatant illegal hip drop tackle to bring down Herbert. Herbig landed on Herbert's trapped legs.

The play was not flagged by officials on the field by the NFL did choose to levy a fine for the dirty tackle

Here is the hip-drop tackle by Nick Herbig that he was fined for. #Steelers #NFL https://t.co/HId3nalXEg pic.twitter.com/KSFfkPFi1H
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) November 15, 2025

The game between the Chargers and Steelers was a primetime matchup for Sunday Night Football. Fans of all walks noticed the hip drop and were shocked it was not called on the field.

I still don’t understand how this play was missed by the officials. If this isn’t a hip drop tackle by Nick Herbig then what is?

Justin Herbert after the game regarding his ankles “I feel pretty good, thank you.” pic.twitter.com/PsjPD6F5dr
— Ryan DePaul (@RyanDePaul) November 10, 2025

A blatant nocall from last night by the refs @DeanBlandino

The actual definition of a "hip drop" tackle. Which is the play Justin Herbert was hurt on.

Not suggesting it was a dirty play from @nickherbig_ but it has been legislated out of the league#chargers pic.twitter.com/IZ5W8K58e7
— Ady Simons (@adysimons) November 10, 2025

I’m not a Herbert defender but wasn’t Herbig’s sack a textbook hip drop? Grabbed him, swung his legs forward to sway his weight to bring him down?? The league just stopped officiating that I guess? Of all QB’s to get the whistle it would be prince boy herbert
— Zach (@zrunns) November 10, 2025

Chargers head coach noted after the game at his post game press conference that the Herbig play wasn't the only questionable hit on the Chargers franchise quarterback.

“I've got another opinion on that, I just don’t want to say it publicly,” Harbaugh said. “A lot of times the ball is already out and he's getting hit. He got hi-lowed, he got hit low a couple times. I think that needs to be looked at”.

Herbert himself acknowledged after the game that he let the referees know when he felt some hits were late.

Justin Herbert on the refs and late hits: “It’s part of the game…” pic.twitter.com/CM9iZjOPSU
— Ryan DePaul (@RyanDePaul) November 12, 2025

The Chargers will be starting their 20th offensive line combination against the Jacksonville Jaguars this week. Opposing defenses have been getting extra shots at Herbert and he and coach Harbaugh need to advocate for better enforcement on those late or dirty hits.

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