Justin Herbert likes the winning, but all the attention? Not as much.

They finally got Justin Herbert.

All it took was six years in the NFL, but they finally found the dirt on the previously squeaky-clean quarterback from Eugene.

Turns out, Herbert can be a bit … terse.

At least that’s what the internet would have you believe after his awkward postgame exchange Monday night with ESPN’s Laura Rutledge. The reporter was trying to track him down after he’d led the Los Angeles Chargers to a 22-19 overtime win over Philadelphia — standard postgame stuff. Herbert had other priorities.

“Yeah, I’m trying to celebrate with my team,” microphones caught him saying near midfield.

People sure ran with that one. A quick Google search brings up headlines like:

• “Chargers star Justin Herbert slammed for ‘extremely rude’ interview”
• “Chargers’ Justin Herbert called rude for awkward interview”
• “Journalists online are big mad about Justin Herbert being extremely rude to Laura Rutledge”
• Even ESPN’s Mina Kimes jumped in on BlueSky: “Justin Herbert LOVES being interviewed. Just loves it.”

Oh, I can relate to that one.

I don’t know much about Justin Herbert, even after covering his entire four-year career at Oregon. He has always kept things close to the vest — starting way back when questions about his role with the Sheldon fishing club made him recoil like hearing nails on a chalkboard. He wasn’t on social media. He wasn’t worried about his brand. He had little appetite for other people telling his story. He did what was required. Nothing more.

I once had lunch with Herbert and linebacker Troy Dye (now Herbert’s teammate on the Chargers) before their senior seasons at Pac-12 media day in Hollywood. Both politely fielded questions, then I clicked the recorder off as we ate.

Dye, who loved the spotlight, asked about my job. We talked about his family. Then he launched into a pretty tame anecdote from the previous year’s Red Box Bowl — not tame enough, apparently, as Herbert looked up from his plate and shot him a look.

“He’s a reporter,” Herbert said.

Journalists like to say we’re people, too.

And I do know Herbert treats people well. From college to the pros, his teammates vouch for him. He’s invested significantly in Eugene’s youth sports scene, has never gotten in trouble and is so respected by his coaching staff that Jim Harbaugh called him a superhero after Monday’s win.

Overall, I believe Herbert to be a pretty good dude who happens to be living a life built for someone who likes attention — while being someone who absolutely doesn’t. He’s dating a celebrity. He plays the most scrutinized position in sports, in Los Angeles, while on a 5-year, $262.5 million contract.

There’s not much sense in running from that spotlight. 

Which is why what happened next mattered.

Rutledge tried again.

“Can we just talk here really fast?” she asked.

Herbert stopped. Maybe he realized the cameras were still rolling. Maybe he realized this was Monday Night Football, that he’d just returned from hand surgery to lead a game-winning drive, and that talking for 20 seconds was simply part of the job. Maybe he realized Rutledge was just a person trying to do hers.

Whatever it was, he obliged.

And while the ensuing interview wasn’t exactly riveting television, he answered every question. Both thanked each other. Both walked away.

Yep. Got him.