Kirk Herbstreit is back for another season of ESPN’s College GameDay, keeping his legendary streak alive. But this year, he’ll hit the road with a heavy heart. His beloved golden retriever, Ben, passed away during the 2024 season. For a decade, Ben wasn’t just a loyal companion—he was a fan favorite. From sideline cameos to social media stardom, the golden pup won over hearts nationwide. Now, his absence will be felt deeply by Herbstreit and the entire CFB community.
But don’t get too down—there’s a new tail wagging in town. Remember, later in the 2024 season, Kirk Herbstreit introduced fans to Peter, another golden retriever joining him on the road. Just like Ben before him, Peter quickly became a crowd favorite. Honestly, the torch has been passed, and Herbstreit’s college football journey now has a new four-legged co-pilot. But the story doesn’t end there. On Sunday evening, Herbstreit announced another adorable addition to the family, keeping the golden tradition alive and well.
Well, on May 4, Kirk Herbstreit gave fans another reason to smile. He posted a heart-melting video of his growing golden retriever crew, introducing the newest member: Beau. Just three months old, Beau was born on January 19, 2025, and he’s already stealing the show. “Meet our newest member to the crew. This is Beau!” wrote Herbstreit. Adding, “We’ve had him for a few days now—he’s doing awesome and looks like he’s gonna be a monster.” However, the best part? Beau shares the same dad as Peter, making them half brothers. And according to Kirk, they’ve been wrestling nonstop ever since. Honestly, golden chaos never looked so good.
Meet our newest member to the crew. 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! pic.twitter.com/RFQWQXdLN2
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) May 5, 2025
But here’s the twist. Herbstreit’s heartwarming golden retriever post didn’t just warm hearts—it struck a surprising emotional chord with one of college football’s most polarizing figures: Antonio Brown. Yes, that Antonio Brown. The former NFL star, whose career flared up like a halftime fireworks show before crashing into controversy, shared Kirk’s post on X with a simple but unexpected comment: “Awesome.”
And just like that, Antonio Brown is back in the headlines—and he’s coming straight for Deion Sanders. What started with a bizarre pasta X post (“Deion Sanders favorite pasta… it was a dick, with some meat balls“) quickly spiraled into pure chaos. In May 2025, Brown took to X with no context, just carnage, dropping old workout clips of Shilo Sanders and claiming, “Deion only brought me around to help his sons.” He even jabbed at Shedeur Sanders, mocking his fifth-round NFL Draft slide as “karma.” Then came the wildest accusation: a fishing trip gone wrong, where Coach Prime allegedly pulled a hook from Brown’s bare toe. Brown fumed, “You never asked if I needed help… Don’t ever say I’m your dawg.” So, the drama is messy—and pure AB.
While the Deion Sanders drama still simmers, Antonio Brown showed a softer side. The outspoken ex-NFL star didn’t hesitate to drop a heartfelt comment under Kirk Herbstreit’s golden retriever post. Turns out, even the most controversial figures can’t resist puppy love. Now, with Herbstreit’s latest family update introducing little Beau to the crew, tributes are pouring in. Fans are flooding his feed with love for the furry newcomer. So, from feuds to fluff, this golden moment brought a rare pause in the chaos.
Fans are showering Kirk Herbstreit’s pup with love
The moment Kirk Herbstreit shared a photo of little Beau, fans couldn’t hold back their emotions, especially after the heartbreak of losing Ben. Love for the golden pup poured in fast. One fan cheered, “Beau!!! Congrats on the new addition.” But the adoration didn’t stop there. Watching Beau’s playful wrestling, another dog-lover gushed, “My favorite X posts are Kirk Herbstreit’s dog photos. Keep them coming.”
Look, his late dog, Ben, was more than a companion—he became a fixture in college football culture. Ben often traveled with Kirk Herbstreit, even appearing on ESPN’s College GameDay. In November 2024, Herbstreit shared that Ben had died of cancer. “We found out today the cancer had spread… we had to let him go,” wrote Herbstreit. Adding, “He was smart, loving, gentle… we understood each other and had each other’s backs.” On top of that, Herbstreit called Ben “1 on 1,” a once-in-a-lifetime companion who’ll be remembered as “America’s best friend.”
The loss of Ben can never truly be consoled, but little Beau is already winning hearts. The three-month-old golden retriever is all charm and chaos, and fans are loving every bit of it. One gushed, “What a great looking pup! He looks big! Great coat too. Fantastic addition to the family.” Another picked up on the sibling energy between Beau and Peter, noting their shared dad: “Beau’s giving Peter a run for his money here. Typical lil brother energy lol.” So, from wrestling matches to tail-wagging mayhem, the Herbstreit crew just got a whole lot cuter.
And to top it all off, one fan captured the Golden Gang’s energy perfectly. “Peter, Theo, Mitch and Beau! Can’t wait to see them all together in the back of the truck!! ” they wrote, dreaming of a tail-wagging road trip with Herbstreit’s lovable crew. With personalities as big as their paws, these four-legged stars are quickly becoming fan favorites. Honestly, forget pregame analysis — fans just want more puppy content on their timelines.
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