It’s that bittersweet time of the year — college football wrapped up, the playoff dust has settled, and fans are shifting their focus to the Super Bowl. But just when you thought the gridiron excitement had taken a breather, a familiar face, or rather, a wagging tail, is making headlines again. We’re talking about Peter Herbstreit, the golden retriever who has won fans’ hearts everywhere.

For longtime followers of Kirk Herbstreit, Peter is more than just a good boy, he’s family. The world watched as the Herbstreit family mourned the tragic loss of their beloved golden pup Ben who passed away from cancer during the CFB regular season. As Ben’s younger brother, the moment Peter stepped into the scene, he carried on Ben’s legacy in the most heartwarming way. That’s why when Kirk Herbstreit posted a sweet picture of himself and Peter staring at the beautiful water view in New Orleans, LA ahead of the Super Bowl, the world went wild. His caption read, “Great walk this morning with Peter here in NOLA!”

Peter has already proven himself as a natural in the football spotlight. From his first road trip to Norman at the Oklahoma vs Alabama game to his appearances at the SEC Championship game, the first-round playoff game, as well as the Rose Bowl game between Oregon and Ohio State, he has become a fan favorite. And it was in the latter where he earned the title “Director of Snuggles.”

At Georgia’s College GameDay in late November, Peter also made friends with the Bulldogs’ mascot Uga, an English Bulldog. But now, with the season behind us, the good boy is still doing what he does best — bringing joy. And now that they’re in New Orleans, fans are gushing over Peter after missing him for some time. 

Peter Herbstreit receives big love from fans

The internet’s full of dog lovers and this person is more than ecstatic to see Peter after a while. “Yay been missing pics of Peter,” they commented. This angel can just lighten up the mood with just a photo! 

Another fan summed up the internet’s collective feeling. They commented, “Hey PETER!!!! We’ve missed you!!!! Great seeing you!❤️❤️❤️ Thanks so much Herb!!!” And this person’s not alone with this emotion. 

It’s been a while and fans are already feeling that emptiness without the playful antics of the beloved dog. “Missed you Peter!! Can’t wait for GAMEDAY to start!” another fan of the golden retriever wrote. And then there are some who can’t imagine not seeing Peter in the offseason. 

The college football offseason can feel long, especially without the GameDay high jinks. One fan wrote, “I’m really bummed I won’t see Peter on football game days for a while.” But Peter is proof that the spirit of football and the love of a great dog never really fades. 

Whether or not the world will see him scampering inside Caesars Superdome, his presence at New Orleans is already lighting fans up. A fan wrote, “Welcome to NOLA, Peter!❤️” Peter’s got friends everywhere! 

And as fans count down the days until the next kickoff, they know they can always count on Kirk Herbstreit’s buddy to keep bringing the smiles — one wag at a time.