After LeBron James, Dwyane Wade’s Wife Gabrielle Pays 3-Word Tribute as Special Lee Corso Moment Resurfaces

College football Saturdays will never be the same again after Lee Corso’s farewell on ESPN’s College GameDay. At 90, the man who first slipped on Brutus Buckeye’s mascot head back in 1996 closed his run in Columbus, where it all began. Fans and players from every corner of sports paused to honor him. LeBron James, the Ohio native who has always worn his Buckeye pride on his sleeve, was one of the first to post a heartfelt message as Corso’s retirement weekend unfolded.

His words echoed what so many were already feeling. On his Instagram story, LeBron reshared a tribute video and wrote, “We will all miss you man.” That moment stood out not just because of who said it, but because of the timing. ESPN had just aired a primetime special capturing Corso’s career, and emotions were already running high. Kirk Herbstreit called the weekend “storybook” and Rece Davis described it as “a real blessing” to celebrate Corso while he was still “feeling great, doing great, and excited for a game.” That was the mood leading up to the next big tribute.

And then came Gabrielle Union. The actress and wife of NBA legend Dwyane Wade joined the chorus on Instagram in a collab post with the Nebraska Huskers. The caption read, “Iconic. Thanks for being a staple of our Saturdays Coach Corso!” In the comments, Union dropped her own three-word salute, “GO BIG RED 🌽🌽🌽” showing love for Nebraska while honoring Corso’s role in making college football fun for everyone. The post quickly spread across fan circles, connecting back to the roots of Corso’s famous headgear tradition.

That tradition started nearly three decades ago in Columbus when Corso first pulled Brutus Buckeye’s head over his shoulders. Since then, he’s worn 69 different mascots and built a 66.5 percent success rate in his picks, far better than his coaching record of 73-85-6 across Louisville, Indiana, and Northern Illinois. Union’s cheer and LeBron’s message captured the same spirit. Both recognized that Corso didn’t just predict games, he gave Saturdays a personality. ESPN host Rece Davis called it “a real blessing that we’re able to give Lee his flowers on a day when he’s feeling great, doing great, and excited for a game”.

He wasn’t just an analyst; he was a beloved entertainer who became part of the family routine. His final broadcast was set for a storybook location, Ohio State’s Ohio Stadium. This choice was deeply symbolic, as it was the very place where he first donned the Brutus Buckeye head in 1996, accidentally creating the most beloved segment in college football television history.

Together, LeBron’s emotional post and Union’s spirited rallying cry formed a unique bookend for Corso’s career. These tributes showed how his influence stretched far beyond football, reaching stars who built their own careers in different arenas. And as the spotlight shifted toward his last broadcast in Columbus, fans understood this was more than just a retirement. It was the close of an era that changed how people watched Saturdays. That stage now leads us directly into the moment that defined his farewell.

Lee Corso’s emotional farewell

Corso’s last appearance fittingly returned to Columbus, the same site where his headgear tradition began on October 5, 1996. Back then, he picked Ohio State by pulling on Brutus Buckeye’s mascot head, creating a ritual that became the heart of College GameDay. Nearly three decades later, he sat on the same set for one final show, this time with the top-ranked Texas Longhorns facing defending champion Ohio State. It was a full-circle moment that felt like sports history replaying itself.

The farewell was packed with tributes. Kirk Herbstreit, his on-air partner since 1996, admitted, “we don’t want to be emotional or sad when it’s his last show. We can be sad next week. But this weekend, we need to be celebrating him.” That tone carried through the broadcast, where Corso received tributes not just from ESPN colleagues but also from former crew members now at Fox Sports. Ohio State coach Ryan Day added that “for him to be here for his last mascot game in his last year means a lot to all of us.”

Across his career, Corso made 430 headgear picks with a 286–144 record. He wore Brutus Buckeye 45 times, but his range included Notre Dame’s leprechaun, the Stanford tree, and even historical figures like James Madison. Through it all, his philosophy never changed. As he once said, “Football is just the vehicle. It’s entertainment, sweetheart.” That approach turned him into one of the most beloved broadcasters in American sports, and his goodbye in Columbus marked the perfect ending.