ESPN Prepares a Wholesome Tribute for Kirk Herbstreit’s Deceased Family Member After Fans’ Unrealistic Demand

Kirk Herbstreit and his dog Ben weren’t just a pair—they were a symbol of loyalty, friendship, and good vibes that everyone in the ESPN community loved to their core. Boy, they did love hard! Ben, the golden retriever who became a fixture on College GameDay, wasn’t just Herbstreit’s dog. He was a travel buddy, a constant source of joy, and a fan favorite who had been given the street name ‘the chief officer of happiness’ by the Rose Bowl. So when Kirk Herbstreit announced on November 7, 2024, that Ben had passed away after a hard-fought battle with leukemia, it hit fans like a ton of bricks. When Ben died, a part of Kirk died, too. He’d been more than a pet; he was family.

Naturally, people wanted to find a way to keep Ben’s spirit alive. Some fans, though, took things a bit too far, demanding that Ben be immortalized with a statue at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Yeah, you read that right—an actual statue for a dog. Not gonna lie, that’s diabolical. The CFB better put him in the Hall-of-Fame before things get too far.

But leave it to ESPN to keep it classy. Instead of throwing up a bronze statue of a golden retriever (which, let’s be honest, would’ve been a little weird), they paid tribute in the perfect way. ESPN named Ben Mascot of the Year, honoring his role as a ray of sunshine in the College GameDay crew. To top it off, they dropped a heartfelt tribute video on Instagram that had fans teary-eyed and sharing their love.

Kirk himself wasn’t shy about showing appreciation, retweeting the tribute on X for the world to see. Even that famous Cosmo Cougar, BYU’s mascot, couldn’t help but show love, commenting, “Tbh, I can’t even be mad about not winning this one.” Fans had their moment of grief, but ESPN kept it real and showed respect without going overboard. No statue, just love. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.

Can Peter Herbstreit take the mantle?

As if the universe wasn’t cruel enough, Kirk didn’t stay in the past for too long. A few weeks after Ben’s passing, Herbstreit introduced Peter, his new golden retriever, as his new travel buddy. But this wasn’t just any dog—Peter had been training with Ben for months. On November 16, 2024, Kirk proudly posted that Peter was joining him on his travels, and by November 19, Kirk Herbstreit tweeted, “Peter is with me this week.” The vibe? A little bittersweet, but full of hope. It was like Kirk was telling everyone, “Hey, we’re moving forward, but Ben’s legacy ain’t going nowhere.”

So here’s the real question: Can Peter live up to the legend of Ben? Kirk ain’t naïve. He knows that Peter’s got some really big paws to fill, no cap. But from what we’re seeing, Peter’s absolutely doing just fine. Herbstreit tweeted, “Peter has big shoes to fill, but he’s really making himself right at home.”

It’s obvious that Peter’s tyrna fit in, and Kirk’s confidence in him is all easy. After all, what better companion for a guy who’s constantly on the road than a loyal pup who knows the grind? Huh. As much as Kirk would love to have Ben back, he’s not about to stop living his life, and Peter’s proving to be the perfect partner to help him keep pushing forward.

While Peter can’t replace Ben’s spirit, he’s definitely bringing his own brand of happiness to the Herbstreit family. Fans are embracing him with open arms, knowing that Ben’s legacy lives on in this new chapter. It’s ain’t about replacing Ben—it’s all about honoring Ben and pushing forward with the same energy on Gameday. Peter’s ready to pick up the mantle, and Kirk’s giving him the seal of approval. The legend of Ben lives on, but as with all great things, life moves on—and so does the next chapter for Kirk and his canine companion.