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Kirk Herbstreit introduces 'Beau' as newest golden retriever in household

IMG_6598by: Nick Kosko05/05/25nickkosko59
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Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit introduced the world to he and his family’s newest dog: Beau. Of course, Beau is a golden retriever and he’s the fourth one in the Herbstreit household.

Herbstreit put a video up of Beau playing with Peter, who is the college football analyst’s current travel companion on the road. Peter started traveling following the passing of Herbie’s beloved dog Ben, who was a College GameDay sensation.

The other dogs in the video, Theo and Mitch, were just laying around watching the chaos. Beau was able to wrestle and play with Peter as he got adjusted to the house.

“Meet our newest member to the crew,” Herbstreit wrote on Twitter. “This is Beau! Born 1-19-25-we’ve had him for a few days now-he’s doing awesome and looks like he’s gonna be a monster. Same Dad as Peter-so obviously half brothers. Peter and Beau wrestling all day!”

As Herbstreit mentioned, Beau has only been with the family for a few days but was born back in January. He and Peter actually came from the same father so they’re half brothers! Destined to be in the same house!

Herbstreit is a staple of ESPN’s coverage of college football, serving as a chief analyst on College GameDay and as the color commentator for the network’s top-billed commentary crew alongside Chris Fowler. Herbstreit also started calling Thursday Night Football games for Amazon Prime in 2023, too.

And in 2023, Herbstreit started bringing Ben along for the ride. He also got the jet-setting dog registered as an emotional support animal — an official title for a role Herbstreit joked that his pup played all along.

Herbstreit also got some online pushback for having Ben accompany him to a game earlier in 2024, the season opener between LSU and USC. And in pushing back, Herbstreit also reiterated that his senior dog was battling cancer.

While galivanting across the country to call college and NFL football games is surely no hardship, Herbstreit is also hard at work both behind the scenes and in front of the camera as a credentialed member of the media.

His dog was no different, especially in the credential department. And the credentials became a theme, as various schools Ben traveled to would have one ready. He’s been “Goodest Boy,” “Wide Retriever,” “Linebarker” and “Golden Receiver Coach,” depending on the school. The Miami Dolphins gave him the title of “Chief Happiness Officer.”