Kirk Herbstreit and the football world are mourning the loss of his beloved golden retriever, Ben.
Taking to X on Thursday, the College GameDay and NFL on Prime analyst announced that Ben has passed away following his battle with cancer. Herbstreit’s post came just days after he provided a worrying update about the dog, who had been battling leukemia and lymphoma.
“This is really hard to write but so many of you have loved and cared about Ben that I wanted to let you know. 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,” Herbstreit wrote. “I’ve had dogs my whole life but Ben was 1 [of] 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. Love you Ben.”
This is really hard to write but so many of you have loved and cared about Ben that I wanted to let you know. 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… pic.twitter.com/jDvPTbNv2M
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 7, 2024
As Herbstreit alluded to, Ben had become a frequent travel companion in recent years, generating significant fanfare as he joined the former Ohio State quarterback on the field, in the broadcast booth and for other appearances. While his health issues had been known for months, they accelerated in recent weeks, leading to Thursday’s devastating news.
Our thoughts go out to the Herbstreit family. As Awful Announcing’s Sean Keeley wrote in September, he was a good boy.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.