Going into the 2025 NFL Hall of Fame Game, we knew that a former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was going to get the start for his new team.

Now with the Los Angeles Chargers, Trey Lance was the first quarterback under center for Jim Harbaugh on Thursday night.

And even though it is just the preseason, Lance went on to make a statement with his play against the Detroit Lions. Lance would end the first half going 9-of-12 for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

Not only were the numbers impressive, but Lance’s command of the offense and quiet confidence came alive.

Once again, this was only the Hall of Fame Game. Lance was playing against a lot of backups. However, there is something to be said about his performance.

“The MVP of the first half, for me,” Cris Collinsworth said just before halftime.

Trey Lance needed to escape Mike McCarthy for Jim Harbaugh, and it showed

Lance looked as good as we’ve ever seen him at the NFL level, and it should be no surprise.

He is, after all, playing for a head coach who knows how to get the most out of his quarterbacks. Harbaugh is proving that he can do something Mike McCarthy could never have done with Lance after the Cowboys moved hastily to acquire him once upon a time.

Who knows, would Brian Schottenheimer have been able to do something similar? I guess that’s a moot point, to be frank. There’s no way to know.

But what we do know is that Lance is still a very young and raw quarterback even though he’s entering his fifth year in the league.

And, under a head coach like Harbaugh, he very well could end up carving out a long career for himself.

If Lance goes on to become one of the best and most dependable backups in the league, you’d have to still consider that a success, despite his draft billing. Forget the fact that the San Francisco 49ers gave up the farm to go up and get him in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Injuries have played a part. And, you could say that luck just hasn’t gone his way at times. Whatever you want to use to describe Lance’s career to this point, it doesn’t necessarily matter.

He looked comfortable, confident and competent in his first half under Harbaugh.

And that, folks, we know would have never happened under McCarthy.