ESPN broadcaster Kirk Herbstreit was visibly emotional after watching his alma mater, the Ohio State Buckeyes, win the College Football Playoff National Championship game, and now the reason is known.
Herbstreit appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” where he not only discussed medical complications his son, Buckeyes walk-on tight end Zak Herbstreit, went through, but he also revealed that his wife, Ally, has been diagnosed with breast cancer .
“It was almost like a perfect storm for me,” Herbstreit told McAfee and his crew about his emotions during the post-game show as Ohio State celebrated the victory. “My son had heart failure two years ago and they talked about a heart replacement for a while. He had to medically retire and I think the gratitude I have for Ryan Day putting his arms around Zak and kept him involved.
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ABC football analyst Kirk Herbstreit watches before the college football game between the Oregon Ducks and Arizona State Sun Devils on November 23, 2019 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“…Ally, my wife, was dealing with some things. It’s been a tough year for me behind the scenes. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, you know (family dog) Ben dying. It was just a lot of emotions and when you do what we do, you persevere. You do your job.
“I think what happened when they won, I was so happy for Ryan Day and those players, from what they faced and everything they went through. It was almost like a relief and it just got the best of me.”
OHIO STATE FOOTBALL ALUM KIRK HERBSTREIT STRIKES DURING BROADCAST AFTER BUCKEYES WIN NATIONAL TITLE
The Herbstreits met during their time at Ohio State together, where Kirk was a four-year letterman at quarterback and Ally was a cheerleader. They had four sons together after getting married, including Zak, who remained with the Buckeyes despite having to retire medically after his heart failure.
After calling the Buckeyes’ 34-23 win alongside Chris Fowler, Herbstreit was on the postgame show when Scott Van Pelt decided to start with the Ohio State alum after seeing him in tears.
Herbstreit didn’t mention what he said to McAfee, but he did discuss the resiliency of this Buckeyes group this season.
ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit is on the field prior to the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Dec. 31, 2022, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“Oh, don’t get me started, man,” Herbstreit, who grew up about an hour away from Ohio State in Centerville, told Van Pelt during the postgame show. “I’m a little emotional. I’m just passionate about these guys.
“When I call these games, I’m incredibly objective. You know, I love all these Ohio State teams, but this team, because of what they went through to get to this point, you’re just happy.”
As the cameras cut back to the broadcast booth, Herbstreit was seen taking a handkerchief off camera to wipe away tears as Fowler continued to speak.
Kirk Herbstreit watches from the sidelines prior to the “Thursday Night Football” game on Amazon Prime at FedEx Field on October 5, 2023 in Landover, Maryland. (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
As Herbstreit mentioned, it’s been a trying year for him personally, but he’s persevered through the college and NFL seasons as he also works with Al Michaels on Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football.”
