Earlier this month, Kirk Herbstreit lost his beloved golden retriever Ben, who had quickly become a beloved guest on all of the programs Herbstreit featured on, including Thursday Night Football, College GameDay, and the SEC on ABC game of the week. And ahead of the Thursday Night Football matchup between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns, the Browns gifted Herbstreit a touching gift in honor of Ben.
Luckily, Herbstreit has not been left without a furry companion on the road since Ben’s passing. The sports world was introduced to Peter, Ben’s younger brother, on the Week 12 edition of College GameDay.
The Browns, who are hosting the Week 12 TNF matchup against the Steelers that Herbstreit is on the call for, gifted Peter a basket full of treats and toys as Herbstreit entered Huntington Bank Field.
In addition to this, Herbstreit was gifted a painting of himself and Ben with the words “Chiefs Happiness Officer” underneath, which Ben was named during his time as a frequent ESPN guest.
The @Browns gave our guy @KirkHerbstreit a special gift 🫶 pic.twitter.com/Arqc535U8D
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) November 22, 2024
It’s quite evident to everyone who watched the Week 11 edition of College GameDay that Herbstreit is still hurting from Ben’s passing, which anyone who has lost a pet can certainly sympathize with him on.
With that in mind, this small gesture from the Browns likely means the world to Herbstreit as he continues to mourn the loss of Ben.
Thursday’s game kicks off what will be an incredibly busy weekend for Hebrstreit and Peter, which will include the Browns-Steelers game, his son’s high school football game in Cincinnati, College GameDay on Saturday morning in Columbus ahead of the Ohio State-Indiana game, and finally, a flight to Norman, Oklahoma for the Oklahoma-Alabama game he will be on the call for.
Of all the weeks of travel this was by far the most convenient-almost feel guilty even posting it-Haha. @NFLonPrime tonight in Cleveland. Tomorrow Regional Final in Cincinnati for X/Moeller. @CollegeGameDay IU/Ohio St
in Columbus- & Bama/OU ABC Sat PM. @FOS pic.twitter.com/UHWuLjjCmf— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 21, 2024
