The Oregon Ducks are a perennial powerhouse in college football, and always have a solid group of NFL draft picks each year.
Two Oregon stars that were drafted in the last five years made their mark on Monday Night Football last night.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving have each developed into stars on their team and led the Chargers and Buccaneers, respectively, to Monday Night football wins, and 2-0 starts on the season.
Herbert, Irving Shine on Monday Night
Herbert was drafted by the Chargers sixth-overall in the 2020 NFL Draft after four spectacular years at Oregon. The Ducks quarterback collected more than 10,500 yards and 95 touchdowns during his four years, and has continued to play at a high level in Los Angeles.
The former Duck won the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Bowl in his second season, and has finished Top 10 in MVP voting twice. Now, Herbert has started the 2025 season 2-0, with 560 passing yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.
On Monday Night Football, Herbert led the Chargers to a 20-9 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, and never trailed in the game. The former Duck threw for 242 yards and two touchdowns, completing 70.4 percent of his passes, and added 31 yards on the ground.
Justin Herbert is a quarterbacking robot created in a lab
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) September 16, 2025
pic.twitter.com/7OzxqpGjmK
The other former Oregon star that stole the show on Monday night was Irving. The former Ducks' running back was drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Buccaneers after two great years at Oregon.
Irving rushed for more than 1,000 yards in both seasons at Oregon, and collected 87 catches for 712 receiving yards and 25 total touchdowns.
In just two years, he's taken over the Buccaneers' lead running back role, and developed into one of the under-rated stars in the NFL.
Irving rushed for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns in his rookie year, and added 47 receptions for 492 yards, finishing sixth in the NFL's Offensive Player of the Year voting.
How good is Bucky Irving?? 🤯pic.twitter.com/XYYvCvuhkq
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 16, 2025
After a stellar rookie year, the Ducks' star back has begun 2025 strong as well. Irving, alongside quarterback Baker Mayfield, led the Buccaneers to a win over the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football, and a 2-0 start to the season.
Irving rushed for 71 yards on 17 carries, and caught six passes for 50 yards. The Buccaneers got the ball back with just over two minutes remaining in the game on Monday night, down five points. Tampa Bay drove 65 yards for a game-winning touchdown and Irving had four catches for 39 yards on the drive.
The Oregon product may not have been a top draft pick, but Irving has cemented himself as one of the Buccaneers' top playmakers in just his second year in the NFL.