Kirk Herbstreit's dog Ben, beloved for his CFB and NFL broadcast crashes, dies at age 10

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

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

“I've had dogs all my life, but Ben was one of them,” Herbstreit wrote on

This is really hard to write, but so many of you loved and cared about Ben that I wanted to let you know. We found out today that the cancer had spread to 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 one of them… 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 headed to the local Nippert Stadium that day. Shortly before, he went on a business trip for the first time in October when Herbstreit took him to Seattle. Herbstreit said The athlete In December 2023, he shared that his family was going through a difficult time at the time, including his 20-year-old son Zak's hospitalization for a heart condition, and Ben offered comfort to Herbstreit while he was away from his family.

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Meet Ben, ESPN's jet-setting golden retriever

“We happily live our lives around Ben and everything he needs,” Herbstreit said The athlete. “I’ll get in touch with Ben, that’s how it works. Everyone else reports to my wife and I, and we report to Ben.”

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

Ben underwent surgery in late July to remove two cancerous tumors on his spleen and intestines, Herbstreit said on X in September. Herbstreit said Ben made an “incredible recovery” in the weeks that followed and was “just so grateful that Ben was feeling better and was able to travel with me.”

Kirk Herbstreit caresses Ben before the match between Ole Miss and Georgia on November 11, 2023. (Photo: Jeffrey Vest / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

“Honestly, I think being out and about and seeing people on the street really helps his spirit and gives him something to look forward to,” Herbstreit said on X at the time Keep an eye on it and react accordingly. He had a GREAT Week 1. I took it one week at a time.”

Ben helped kick off one of the first matchups of the 2024 college football season on ESPN's pregame broadcast of the LSU-USC game in Las Vegas. In the booth, Ben strolled back and forth between Herbstreit and his co-analyst Rece Davis – his tail wagging in the picture – and waited for cuddles from the two.

.@KirkHerbstreitBen'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 became weaker and could no longer move his back legs, Herbstreit wrote Monday on X. Herbstreit took Ben to a holistic doctor, where he was given IV vitamin C for three days he said.

“I am so grateful for ALL the love that so many have shown him over the last few years. “One of the hardest things I’ve been through 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)