Kirk Edward Herbstreit born August 19, 1969 is an American sportscaster and former college football player. He serves as an analyst for ESPN’s College GameDay, provides color commentary for college football games on ESPN and ABC, and covers Thursday night NFL games on Prime Video. Herbstreit has earned five Sports Emmy Awards for his television work. He also appeared annually as a commentator in EA Sports’ NCAA Football video game until the series was paused after NCAA Football 14. Herbstreit graduated from Centerville High School in Centerville, Ohio, where he was named the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior quarterback.
Kirk Herbstreit Biography 2025
Additionally, he excelled in basketball and baseball. He was the first player to commit to Ohio State University after John Cooper became head coach in 1988. Over four years at Ohio State (1989-1993), Herbstreit was a letterman and co-captain in his senior year. As a quarterback, he passed for 1,904 yards in 1992, including four games over 200 yards. He set a then-record for Ohio State with 28 pass completions in a game against Michigan, a mark that stood until 2006. Herbstreit graduated with a degree in business administration in 1993. Herbstreit’s father, Jim Herbstreit, was a co-captain of the 1960 Ohio State team and an assistant coach under Woody Hayes. The two became only the second father-son duo to each be named captains at Ohio State, with their record being matched only once before by James and Jeff Davidson in 1989.
Kirk Herbstreit Biography Details
| Born: |
August 19, 1969 (age 55)
Centerville, Ohio, U.S. |
Kirk Herbstreit Early Life
Kirk Herbstreit met his wife, Alison, while attending Ohio State, where she was a cheerleader. They married in 1998 and have four sons. In 2011, the Herbstreit family moved from Ohio to Nashville, though they now split their time between there and Cincinnati, where their youngest son, Chase, plays quarterback at St. Xavier High School. Their twin sons, Jake and Tye, were athletes at Montgomery Bell Academy. Tye currently plays football as a walk-on at Clemson University, while Jake walked on at Clemson before transferring to Ohio State to focus on academics. Herbstreit’s youngest son, Zak, joined the Ohio State football team as a preferred walk-on in 2021 as a tight end.
Herbstreit is a devout Christian, and when asked about the role faith plays in his life, he explained, “Everything. I try to every day walk that path.” In his spare time, Herbstreit enjoys playing EA Sports video games, working out, and following horse racing. He is also a fan of Ohio sports teams, including the Cincinnati Bengals, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Cincinnati Reds. Herbstreit was featured in How We Lookin’?, a documentary about the life and career of longtime Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman. He has four golden retrievers, one of whom, Ben, traveled with him to games. Ben, a certified emotional support animal, became a fan favorite until his passing in 2025 due to illness.
Career Overview
| Category |
Details |
| Name |
Kirk Edward Herbstreit |
| Born |
August 19, 1969 |
| Hometown |
Centerville, Ohio |
| Position |
Quarterback (Ohio State Buckeyes) |
| College |
Ohio State University (1989–1993) |
| Degree |
Business Administration |
| Broadcasting Role |
Analyst, Color Commentator, and Host |
| Key Awards |
Five Sports Emmy Awards |
| Career Focus |
College football, NFL commentary |
| TV Shows |
College GameDay, Monday Night Football, NFL Draft |
Playing Career Timeline
| Year |
Key Event |
| 1989 |
Enters Ohio State as a freshman |
| 1992 |
Becomes starting quarterback, co-captain |
| 1992 |
Sets Ohio State record for pass completions (28) |
| 1993 |
Team MVP, Florida Citrus Bowl appearance |
| 1993 |
Graduates from Ohio State |
Broadcasting Roles and Achievements
| Role |
Facts |
| College GameDay Analyst |
Lead analyst on ESPN’s College GameDay |
| NFL Draft Coverage |
Replaced Jon Gruden for ESPN’s night one coverage |
| NFL Color Commentator |
Joined Amazon’s Thursday Night Football in 2022 |
| Awards |
Five-time Sports Emmy Award winner |
Personal Life
| Aspect |
Point |
| Spouse |
Alison Herbstreit |
| Married |
1998 |
| Children |
Four sons: Jake, Tye, Zak, and Chase |
| Residence |
Nashville, Tennessee and Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Faith |
Devout Christian, faith central to his life |
Charity and Community Involvement
| Charity |
Information |
| Buckeye Cruise for Cancer |
Active in fundraising for cancer research |
| Make A Wish Foundation |
Supports charity events like Ultimate Sports Auction |
Football Legacy
| Legacy Aspect |
Details |
| Ohio State Legacy |
Became second father-son duo to serve as team captains |
| Record |
Set Ohio State record for pass completions in 1992 |
Herbstreit’s Achievements in Broadcasting
| Achievement |
Dates |
| Sports Emmy Wins |
Five-time winner in various categories |
| Outstanding Studio Analyst |
Three-time winner (2010, 2011, 2019) |
| Outstanding Event Analyst |
Two-time winner (2018, 2020) |
Awards and Honors
| Award |
Year |
| Sports Emmy Awards |
Multiple (Three in Studio, Two in Event Analyst) |
| Rose Bowl Hall of Fame |
Inducted in 2023 |
Hobbies and Interests
| Hobby |
Details |
| Video Games |
Enjoys playing EA Sports video games |
| Horse Racing |
Enthusiast of the sport |
| Sports Fandom |
Follows Ohio sports teams (Bengals, Blue Jackets, Reds) |
Herbstreit’s Television Appearances
| Show |
Role |
| College GameDay |
Lead Analyst |
| Monday Night Football |
Color Commentator for NFL games |
| NFL Draft Coverage |
Analyst for ESPN and ABC |
Family Football Legacy
| Family Member |
Details |
| Father |
Jim Herbstreit, Ohio State co-captain (1960) |
| Son (Zak) |
Preferred walk-on at Ohio State (tight end) |
| Son (Tye) |
Walk-on at Clemson University |
Charity Work
| Charity Event |
Details |
| Ultimate Sports Auction |
Benefit for Make A Wish Foundation |
| Buckeye Cruise for Cancer |
Supports cancer research and patient services |
Kirk Herbstreit Net Worth
Herbstreit’s net worth is estimated to be in the $90 million range.
Kirk Herbstreit Summary
Kirk Herbstreit has established a long and successful career both as a football player and a broadcaster. His influence on college football through his insightful analysis on College GameDay and his role in NFL broadcasting reflects his deep knowledge and passion for the game. Additionally, his commitment to family, faith, and charitable causes shows the well-rounded nature of his life outside of sports. Herbstreit continues to be a significant figure in both sports and media, influencing future generations of fans and broadcasters.
