ESPN Commentator Kirk Herbstreit Bids Farewell To His 10-Year-Old Golden Retriever, Ben Herbstreit After Tough Cancer Battle!
November 8, 2026
This article was last updated by Aditi Rai on November 8, 2026
The chief analyst on ESPN, Kirk Herbstreit, lost his companion, his golden retriever, Ben Herbstriet, on November 7, 2026, after an eight-month-long struggle with a rare cancer, Leukemia.
is a sports commentator working with ESPN’s College GameDay and Amazon’s Thursday Night Football.
The commentator suffered the heartbreaking loss of his golden retriever, Ben, who had been his companion for a decade.
Ben was his other family member, and people even loved him for his appearance during game day with Kirk.
For a long time, Kirk’s furry friend had chances to show his presence at different sporting events throughout the United States.
The ESPN football pundit announced the passing of his retriever through social media on November 7, 2026.
‘College Gameday’ Analyst Kirk Herbstreit’s Service Dog Ben Succumbed to Leukemia Within 8 Months of Diagnosis
Kirk Herbstreit shared the tragic news of Ben’s demise on Twitter following his months-long struggle with a rare cancer, Leukemia.
This form of cancer is rare in the case of dogs, but it weakens the immune system and makes the dog struggle for life.
Ben was just 10 years old at the time of his passing. Analyzing old posts, we discovered that doctors diagnosed him with Leukemia in March 2026.
The constant weakening of the immune system and fighting off injections made it difficult for Ben to sustain.
The report suggests that the golden retriever underwent a major surgery to remove two cancerous masses. Despite the efforts, his health continued to decline.
Doctors extracted the cancerous masses from the spleen and intestine, which made daily things extremely difficult for him.
Before the weeks of Ben’s passing, the commentator provided everyday updates on the dog’s condition through Twitter.
He shared a heartbreaking post after fans noticed him without his golden at ESPN College GameDay before Week 10.
On November 4, just days before the dog’s last day, Kirk revealed that he got his second chemotherapy injection.
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…
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit)
After the October 23 injection, the retriever’s health further deteriorated, and it was so rapid that Ben was almost paralyzed.
He lost the use of his back legs and couldn’t even eat for several days. In a desperate attempt, Kirk Herbstreit admitted him for holistic treatment.
Ben underwent vitamin C IV therapy to flush toxins from the body, but nothing seemed to be useful in the scenario.
Despite many attempts, cancer spread throughout his organs, and nothing more could have been done.
Tragically, on November 7, the commentator had to let him go to peace after months of struggle and pain.
Kirk and his furry friend had been together for about a decade, and Kirk had seen him grow from a pup, which made the farewell even more painful.
In Addition To Ben, The ‘Wide Retriever, ‘ Kirk Herbstreit Has Three Other Retrievers!
Ben was more than just a pet for Kirk Herbstreit. In addition to being a companion, he was a family member who traveled extensively with Kirk.
In the heartfelt announcement of the dog’s passing, he stated:
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.
Besides Kirk, Ben was also an essential figure among college football fans, who were habituated to seeing him every week.
He accompanied the ESPN commentator to games only after 2026, but they were together during challenging times.
The golden retriever was together with him even when his son Zak was in the hospital for weeks due to a heart condition.
The Atlanta Falcons even nicknamed Ben the “Wide Retriever” for a Week 5 “Thursday Night Football” game.
Kirk Herbstreit Announces Heartbreaking News About Beloved Dog Ben | KFAN FM 100.3
— KFAN1003 (@KFAN1003)
Though the late dog was special for Kirk Herbstreit, it wasn’t just the dog he had ever had.
A 2026 article from disclosed that his family includes three other goldens: Theo (7), Mitch (4), and Peter (1).
The commentator’s love for pets, especially dogs, dates back to his first retriever as a teenager in 1985.
However, Ben held something special for him as he spent more than 10 years together, through all ups and downs.
In Case You Didn’t Know:
- Kirk Herbstreit played QB for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1989 to 1993 before joining ESPN.
- Even his youngest son, Chase, is a senior QB at Cincinnati St. Xavier High School.
- The Miami Dolphins named his dog Ben the Chief Happiness Officer of Football.
- Check other Articles on
Ujjwal Parajuli is a seasoned writer with extensive experience in the field, having dedicated many years to honing his craft. His work spans a variety of genres, demonstrating his versatility and depth as a writer. Alongside his passion for storytelling, Ujjwal has a keen interest in sports, particularly football, American football, baseball, and several other athletic pursuits.
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