All about Justin Herbert's parents, former Oregon basketball star Holly and biology teacher Mark Herbert

Justin Herbert's parents are extremely proud of their son's career with the Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert's parents, Holly and Mark Herbert, are never too far away when their son needs them.

The couple's home is just a 10-minute drive – and a 23-minute walk – from Autzen Stadium, where Justin starred as a quarterback at the University of Oregon.

After being drafted sixth overall in 2020, he is now the starting quarterback for the Los Angeles Chargers and Justin's parents are still there when he needs them. The family frequently travels to LA to support him at games and still meets several times a year at their home in Eugene, Oregon.

Related: Meet Justin Herbert's Brothers: All About Mitchell and Patrick Herbert

Mark, who coached Justin on his youth team, is thrilled his son has landed one of the most coveted positions in sport. “It’s one of the 32 best jobs in the world,” he told ESPN in 2020. “It’s in the best place on the West Coast, we can visit. He has a bright future.”

From her sporting roots to raising her three boys, here's everything you need to know about Justin Herbert's parents, Holly and Mark Herbert.

They are former athletes

Justin first gained national attention as a quarterback for the University of Oregon. But he wasn't the first in his family to play for the Ducks. His mother, Holly, played basketball at the University of Oregon. Her father, Rich Schwab, was a popular receiver for Oregon from 1960 to 1963.

Justin's father, Mark, was a football and track athlete at the University of Montana. Mark's father, Roger Herbert, was also a sprinter at Oregon State University and later became a longtime track coach at Sheldon High School. Both Mark and Roger taught high school biology.

They have three sons

In addition to Justin, the couple has two other sons.

Holly and Mark welcomed Mark Mitchell Herbert for the first time on April 21, 1996. Mitchell was a member of the National Honor Society and played football at Montana State University. He graduated from Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons with a medical degree in 2024 and now works in orthopedic surgery at UCLA.

After welcoming Justin on March 10, 1998, Holly and Mark welcomed their youngest son, Patrick, on October 18, 2000. He studies sociology at the University of Oregon and is a tight end on the football team.

“It’s a team I’ve rooted for my entire life,” Patrick said Eugene Magazine in 2024 about his decision to follow in his family's footsteps. “I grew up here in Eugene and have always loved the Ducks, so playing for this program is very special, as it is for the rest of my family.”

You wrote Justin a sweet letter when he got drafted

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL held the 2020 draft remotely. Justin and his draft class missed the festivities that usually surround the event, but the Chargers found a memorable way to celebrate their newest draftees. The “Dear Rookies” series featured letters written and read by Chargers family members, including Holly and Mark.

“As you begin this next chapter, a chapter that you have dreamed of and worked hard for, we just want to tell you how proud we are of you,” the letter said. “Justin, you are living your dream, not from luck, but from hard work, commitment and determination.”

The couple then listed some guidelines to live by before reminding their son that they would always be there for him.

“You’ve got this, and if you ever need anything, we’ve got it!” they wrote.

Justin wants to give his father a special gift

In 2023, Justin signed a five-year, $262.5 million contract, making him the league's highest-paid player in terms of average annual salary at the time. Mark told Yahoo Sports that his family's life hadn't changed much despite the impressive payday. He said he still works, walks the dog and drives his 2004 Ford pickup “until the paint peels off.”

“To be honest, I think Justin is embarrassed,” Mark shared in the 2023 interview about the massive contract. “He told me. He said, “Dad, no one has made that much money.” And he’s right. But you know, someone feels like they deserve it.”

But Justin had a big purchase in mind when he made his appearance ThePat McAfee Show in 2023.

“I'm thinking about maybe putting a field goal post in my back yard for my dad so he doesn't have to tape it up anymore,” he said, smiling.

Mark loves motivating his children

Mark grew up as a child with top sporting achievements, but was not always proud of his achievements. The former all-state wide receiver hoped to repeat his high school football success at the University of Montana and try out track and field. But after barely passing his physical exam, Mark got injured and left the football team before the second season. He turned his attention to athletics and competed in hurdles, long jump and triple jump.

Looking back, the father of three admitted he didn't appreciate the opportunity to play football as much as he should have.

“I've always told my kids that college football is a lot harder than people think,” he explained 406 MT SPORTin 2019. “They think it’s glamorous. High school kids think it's easy and think, “Because I was the star in high school, I'll be the star in college.” That's not how it works. That’s what I found out.”

Because of this experience, Mark was hesitant to tell his children about his time in Montana, but eventually he realized there was a lesson to be learned.

“For me it was uncomfortable and difficult because I was the most classic underachiever and unfulfilled potential human being imaginable,” he added. “I told them (my sons) that I messed up and that I had some skills and that I didn't use my time very wisely and didn't take advantage of some of the opportunities that I had. I wanted to make sure they did the opposite of what I did.”

Holly's father was a role model for Justin

Holly's father, Rich Schwab, or “Schwabby” as he was affectionately known, died of a stroke in January 2018. The impression he left on his grandchildren was profound, as he was the one who introduced the Herbert boys to Ducks football.

After her father's death, Holly was surprised by Justin's reaction, as he was usually quiet and introverted.

“Justin said, 'I'm going to honor him by being a better teammate and a better person,'” Holly said Oregon Live in 2018. “I just thought, Wow. Because he is a man of few words.”

According to Holly, her dad “lived and breathed Oregon football.” He was so dedicated that he attended the team's 2009 Rose Bowl game not long after heart valve replacement surgery. Schwab was also a popular figure in the community.

“I just remember all the people coming up to me and telling me what a great man he was, and I knew it,” Justin recalled. “Everything he taught me, I try to live it every day to make sure I honor him.”

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Read the original article on People.