ESPN's Sports Emmy award-winning lead analyst Kirk Herbstreit recently shared the passing of his cherished golden retriever, Ben, who had become a familiar presence in college football circles. Ben, the service dog frequently joined Herbstreit at games, won the hearts of fans and fellow sports enthusiasts alike.
In March, Ben was diagnosed with two types of cancer— leukemia and lymphoma, which eventually spread throughout his body. On Thursday, at age 10, Ben lost his battle with cancer, Kirk Herbstreit revealed on X. He wrote:
"We found out today the cancer had spread throughout Bens organs and there was nothing left we could do-we had to let him go. I’ve had dogs my whole life but Ben was 1 on 1. He was smart-loving-gentle-patient-inquisitive-and welcoming to all. Always a big smile and a soft tail wag. He and I could communicate..he and I understood each other and had each others backs."
Who is Kirk Herbstreit
Kirk Herbstreit is one of the most recognized voices in college football. Since 1996, he’s been a key analyst on ESPN’s College GameDay, the popular Saturday morning show that previews the day’s big college games.
He’s also the lead game analyst for ESPN and ABC's top football games, working alongside notable sportscasters like Chris Fowler.
Over his career, Kirk Herbstreit has won five Sports Emmy Awards for his work, becoming ESPN’s most decorated on-air analyst. He’s covered every College Football Playoff National Championship since the CFP started in 2014 and has called numerous Rose Bowl games, even earning a place in the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame in 2023.
Besides college football, Herbstreit has expanded his work to the NFL, joining Al Michaels in 2022 to cover Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime. He's also contributed to other ESPN shows, including SportsCenter and the NFL Draft.
A former college quarterback, Kirk Herbstreit played for Ohio State in the early 1990s, following in the footsteps of his father, Jim, who was also a captain for the Buckeyes.
He’s also written a memoir, Out of the Pocket, sharing his experiences on the field and as a dad. Today, three of his sons have also played college football, with his youngest still in high school and hoping to play at the college level soon.
Tributes pour in for Kirk Herbstreit's dog
The "Thursday Night Football" team honored Kirk Herbstreit’s golden retriever, Ben. Host Charissa Thompson expressed condolences to Herbstreit before the game between the Ravens and Bengals. He said:
“We want to share our deepest sympathies with our teammate Kirk Herbstreit on the passing of his beloved dog, Ben. We all loved seeing Ben here every single week. He was a huge part of the ‘TNF’ family and he will be very missed,”
Ben, who often accompanied Herbstreit to games by private plane, became a familiar and much-loved presence for fans who enjoyed seeing him at the games.
ML Football also posted a tribute video for Ben on their official X account:
Ben even had a viral moment earlier this year when he strolled onto the set during the LSU-USC pregame show.
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"My phone hasn’t stopped ringing for the last 3 hours from texts and tweets about my boy Ben. I’m truly overwhelmed by how many people he touched-and from the bottom of my heart thank you for sending your best wishes and letting me know how much you loved him. This has been a really tough day and all your touching notes and messages have really hit home."
Kirk Herbatreit wrote on his Instagram post while thanking everyone for reaching out to him.
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