Kirk Herbstreit's Dog Ben, Beloved for Crashing CFB, NFL Broadcasts, Dies at 10

Kirk Herbstreit's golden retriever Ben, who became beloved by sports fans for his appearances in college football stadiums and NFL games in recent years, died Thursday at the age of 10.

Ben was diagnosed with leukemia and lymphoma in March, and Herbstreit — the ESPN college football and Amazon Prime NFL analyst — said Thursday that the cancer spread through Ben's organs.

“I've had dogs all my life, but Ben was 1 (of) 1,” Herbstreit wrote on X. “He was smart, loving, gentle, curious, and welcoming to everyone. Always a big smile and a gentle wag of the tail.”

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 that the cancer had spread through Ben's organs and there was nothing we could do: we had to let him go. I've had dogs all my life, but Ben was 1 in… pic.twitter.com/jDvPTbNv2M

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) November 7, 2024

Ben first joined Herbstreit on the set of ESPN's “College GameDay” in November 2021, when the show traveled to the University of Cincinnati for the Bearcats' game against Tulsa. The Herbstreits live in Cincinnati, so Ben took a trip to the local Nippert Stadium that day. Shortly before that in October, he took his first business trip when Herbstreit took him to Seattle. Herbstreit said The Athletics in December 2023 that his family was then going through a difficult time, including the hospitalization of his 20-year-old son Zak due to a heart condition, and Ben offered Herbstreit comfort while he was away from his family.

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Meet Ben, ESPN's jet-setting Golden Retriever

“We like to tailor our lives around Ben and whatever he needs,” Herbstreit said The Athletics. “I report to Ben, that's pretty much how it works. Everyone else reports to my wife and I, and we report to Ben.”

Ben has had lots of NFL and college football references since then made in his name. This season, the Atlanta Falcons awarded Ben the “Wide Retriever” for a Week 5 “Thursday Night Football” game, while the Miami Dolphins gave him the title of “Chief Happiness Officer of Football” in Week 2. Penn State named him one “Treat analyst” before last Saturday's “GameDay” show prior to Penn State-Ohio State.

Ben had surgery at the end of July to remove two cancerous tumors on his spleen and intestine, Herbstreit said on X in September. Herbstreit said Ben had an “incredible recovery” in the weeks that followed and that he was “so grateful that (Ben) felt better and was able to travel with me.”

Kirk Herbstreit pets Ben before the Ole Miss-Georgia game on Nov. 11, 2023. (Photo: Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“Honestly, I think being outside and seeing people on the road really helps his spirit and gives him something to look forward to,” Herbstreit said on X at the time. “I will keep a close eye on him and respond accordingly . He had a GREAT week 1. We took it one week at a time.”

Ben helped work one of the first matchups of the 2024 college football season during ESPN's pregame broadcast of the LSU-USC game in Las Vegas. In the booth, Ben strolled between Herbstreit and his fellow analyst Rece Davis – his tail was seen wagging on screen – while waiting for the two's pets.

.@KirkHerbstreit's dog, Ben, made his way to the LSU-USC pregame show 🐶😂 pic.twitter.com/BetPuCpvcl

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 1, 2024

On Oct. 23, Ben underwent a second chemo injection, but afterward he weakened, leaving him unable to use his hind legs, Herbstreit wrote on X on Monday. Herbstreit took Ben to a holistic doctor, where he received vitamin C IV for three days, he said .

“I am so grateful for ALL the love so many have shown him over the years. One of the hardest things I have experienced in my life,” Herbstreit wrote. “Ben is my best friend and companion. I love him with all my heart.”

(Photo: Andy Altenburger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)