Kirk Herbstreit Posts Heartfelt Message On Father's Death Anniversary
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Kirk Herbstreit mourned the 10-year anniversary of his father's passing on Tuesday.
The ESPN broadcaster posted a tribute to Jim Herbstreit on social media. Jim died on March 17, 2016, two years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.
"My Dad, Jim, passed away 10 years ago today," Kirk Herbstreit wrote. "I’ll never forget where I was standing that morning when my sister Teri called hysterically letting me know he had passed. Think about him every day and feel blessed to have had him as my father.
I miss ya Dad!"
My Dad, Jim, passed away 10 years ago today. I’ll never forget where I was standing that morning when my sister Teri called hysterically letting me know he had passed.
Think about him every day and feel blessed to have had him as my father.
I miss ya Dad! 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/HvQCjGliT0— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) March 17, 2026
Jim Herbstreit forged family path at Ohio State
Jim Herbstreit played three seasons at Ohio State, accruing 229 yards as a running back while also lining up at defensive back and on special teams.
Kirk followed in his father's footsteps by playing for the Buckeyes. They became the third father-son duo to each serve as Ohio State football captains.
The younger Herbstreit led the Buckeyes to an 8-3-1 season in 1992 with 1,904 passing yards. Shortly after, he joined ESPN as a college football analyst.
Kirk Herbstreit has spent the last 30 years on College GameDay, becoming the beloved show's longest-tenured panelist after Lee Corso's retirement. The Ohio native continues to work a busy schedule during football season, broadcasting college games for ESPN and the NFL's Thursday Night Football alongside Al Michaels for Amazon Prime Video.
He's also passed on a love of football to the family's next generation. His son, Zak, became the latest Herbstreit to play for Ohio when suiting up at tight end in 2022.
Jake and Tye Herbstreit played college football at Clemson, and Kirk's youngest son, Chase, enrolled at Michigan last year.
This story was originally published by The Spun on Mar 17, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add The Spun as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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