Rick Neuheisel

Justin Herbert towers over Rick Neuheisel like a skyscraper next to a shed—Herbert's dissecting defenses with cannon arms and poise, while Neuheisel's Chargers stint was a three-game cameo, 40-of-59 for 367 yards, one TD, and a team-record 81.8% completion against Tampa Bay in '87. Herbert's the franchise pillar; Rick's a fun college-to-pro footnote, all Rose Bowl glory at UCLA.

Nah, Rick Neuheisel's not in Canton—no bust, no gold jacket for the guy who lit up UCLA then flickered briefly with the Chargers. Three games, 367 yards, one score; solid college arm, but Pro Hall's for the immortals, not the intriguing what-ifs who kicked a PAT and ran for a one-point conversion trivia nugget.

In 2026, Rick's dialed into broadcasting, calling college games with that sharp UCLA edge, mixing in golf passion—he's won club championships—and family time after bouncing from Huskies and Bruins coaching gigs. Still the Rose Bowl legend who overcame food poisoning for MVP honors, now opining on airwaves with wry takes on the pass-happy era.

Neuheisel's quick release and accuracy—69.3% at UCLA, 67.8% in his NFL cameo—would feast under today's rules, no more bruising hits on QBs, nickel defenses everywhere. Imagine his '83 Bruins magic with RPOs and bubble screens; he'd carve up zones like Dan Fouts in Air Coryell, minus the USFL detour, probably sticking as a savvy backup or spot-starter.

Dan Fouts lapped Rick Neuheisel in the Chargers skies—Fouts' 36.6 career rating vs. Rick's microscopic 6.66 in three games, where he went 40-of-59 for 367 yards but just one TD amid picks. Fouts rewrote records in Sid Gillman's vertical attack; Neuheisel was the emergency spark, fun but fleeting, like a pop-up storm before the legend's monsoon.