Justin Herbert's relationship with Madison Beer has found itself at the centre of an unexpected NFL conversation after former player T.J. Ward offered a blunt opinion about the couple.
Ward, a former Denver Broncos safety and Super Bowl champion, questioned whether Herbert's relationship with the singer could affect the quarterback's focus after the Los Angeles Chargers opened the 2026 NFL season 0-2.
During an appearance on the Speakeasy show on Thursday, 24 September, Ward argued that being in a high-profile relationship can demand time and attention from an NFL player. He then went further, claiming that Beer was 'using' Herbert and suggesting she could leave if his performances continued to decline.
What T.J. Ward Said About Justin Herbert and Madison Beer
Ward's comments came as part of a wider discussion about Herbert's start to the 2026 season.
'You get a girl. The little time, the extra time you spend on your craft, she's demanding it,' Ward said during the discussion. He argued that having a famous partner could add another layer of attention to the life of a professional quarterback.
Ward then directly addressed Beer, saying: 'As soon as you start having a lack of success, Justin, this girl, Beer, she's using you, buddy.' He went on to predict that Beer would be 'outta there' if Herbert stopped receiving the same level of attention associated with being a successful NFL quarterback.
Justin Herbert's NFL Season Has Started Slowly
Through the Chargers' first two games of the 2026 season, Herbert has completed 32 of 54 passes for 401 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. His passer rating is 71.6.
The Chargers lost their opening two games against the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, putting additional attention on Herbert as the team's starting quarterback. Those numbers are notably different from Herbert's 2025 regular-season campaign, when he completed 66.4 per cent of his passes for 3,727 yards, 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
That early-season dip helps explain why analysts and former players are discussing Herbert's performance.
Herbert and Beer Are Engaged
Herbert and Beer are not simply dating. The couple announced their engagement on 28 July 2026 in a joint Instagram post.
Beer captioned the announcement 'meet my fiancé', alongside photographs showing Herbert proposing to her. The couple had first been linked in August 2025 and subsequently appeared together at sporting events and Chargers games. Herbert has also appeared in Beer's music video for 'lovergirl', while Beer has publicly supported him at Chargers games.
The NFL reported that Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh had previously been supportive when Herbert travelled with Beer during the offseason. Herbert missed part of the team's voluntary offseason workouts while attending her tour, although voluntary workouts are not the same as mandatory training activities.
No Evidence Behind Ward's Claim
Ward's comments have created a distinction between what is known and what is being speculated about the couple. It is known that Herbert and Beer are engaged. It is also confirmed that Herbert has had a difficult opening two games statistically and that the Chargers are 0-2.
Neither Herbert nor Beer has publicly indicated that their relationship is causing problems, and there is no evidence that Beer plans to leave Herbert because of his performance.
The Focus Now Returns to Football
The 28-year-old quarterback is entering his seventh NFL season and remains one of the central figures in the Chargers' plans. His career statistics show a much longer track record than the first two games of 2026, including more than 25,000 passing yards and 165 touchdown passes through the end of the 2025 season.
Whether his early-season struggles continue will ultimately be determined by what happens during the games. Ward's remarks have nevertheless added a new layer to the discussion, bringing Herbert's engagement to Beer into a conversation that initially centred on football.
