‘RIP Ben’: Kirk Herbstreit's golden retriever dies after cancer battle, Internet pays tribute to ‘The Goat of Dogs’
Kirk Herbstreit revealed that his cherished golden retriever Ben, who rose to fame at college football stadiums, passed away following a protracted illness.
ESPN football analyst Kirk Herbstreit revealed that his cherished golden retriever Ben, who rose to fame at college football stadiums, passed away following a protracted illness.
Kirk Herbstreit shared the heartbreaking news of the passing of his beloved golden retriever, Ben. (Getty Images)
Herbstreit has been posting health updates on his 10-year-old dog over the past three weeks. Several people were sending him good wishes as Ben was undergoing treatment for leukemia.
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However, the news that doctors could not do anything to save him because cancer had spread throughout his body hit the social media on Thursday.
“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,” Herbstreit stated in a statement on social media.
“I’ve had dogs my whole life but Ben was 1 on 1. He was smart-loving-gentle-patient-inquisitive-and welcoming to all.”
As Ben was the oldest among the four golden retrievers the family owns, Herbstreit described the experience as “one of the hardest things I’ve gone through in my life.”
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Tributes pour in for Ben
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Social media users from all across the sports world swiftly offered their respects to Ben, with one account referring to him as “The Goat of Dogs.”
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Social media users from all across the sports world swiftly offered their respects to Ben, with one account referring to him as “The Goat of Dogs.”
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“So sorry, brother. I truly am,” another wrote.
“Dogs are family. Dogs are best friends. America will remember Ben as a legend. He made so many people happy,” a third user commented.
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On October 26, Ben attended a college football game where his dad was assigned to watch Texas A&M play LSU.
With his iconic smile, Ben was supposed to show up, When Herbstreit traveled to State College, Pennsylvania for Ohio State-Penn State last weekend. But he did not do so due to his deteriorating health.
He gained so much popularity in the football community that he was given credentials to play in games and was appointed "chief happiness officer" for the Rose Bowl in 2024.
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.
Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
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Home/World News/Us News/‘RIP Ben’: Kirk Herbstreit's golden retriever dies after cancer battle, Internet pays tribute to ‘The Goat of Dogs’
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