ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit Delivers Devastating Family News: “This Is Really Hard”

Kirk Herbstreit (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
One of the hardest things pet owners have to endure in life is the day they have to say goodbye, and now Kirk Herbstreit is going through it.

The ESPN analyst is going viral after he took to social media to announce that his Golden Retriever had to be put down after they found out that the cancer Ben had been dealing with had spread throughout his organs.

“This is really hard to write but so many of you have loved and cared about Ben that I wanted to let you know,” Kirk Herbstreit started off his post.

“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. He was with me more than anyone at home and traveling with me for work. Such an easy going companion.

Hard day-but he will live within all of us forever. God please bless his majestic soul and thank you for putting him in my life for the last 10 years-a true blessing.”

Over the past few years, Kirk Herbstreit’s dog had become a big part of ESPN’s weekly’ College Football GameDay’ show and he has even brought Ben with the crew across the nation to nearly every stop.

You just never know when it will all come to an end, and for Herbstreight and his family, the mourning begins and might not ever heal.

Ben was undergoing treatment for cancer throughout 2024, and Herbstreit announced recently that it had taken a far more intensive turn.

We pray and hope that Herbstreit and his family can soon find peace.

Will Kirk Herbstreit Miss Time On College GameDay?

ESPN analyst and color commentator Kirk Herbstreit, is in mourning.

Herbstreit announced that his beloved dog, Ben, died after a battle with cancer.

Ben is the oldest of four golden retrievers the family owns, and Herbstreit called the ordeal before his death “one of the hardest things I’ve gone through in my life.”

Ben was well known to college football fans, joining Herbstreit on the set of the touring ESPN pregame show College GameDay and in the booth for games.

What does this mean for Herbstreit?

He hasn’t stated anything, so it does not appear that Kirk Herbstreit will miss any time on College Gameday.

Saturday is likely to be very emotional as the passing of Ben will be brought up.