Kirk Herbstreit, a renowned sports broadcaster, comes from a family with deep ties to Ohio State football, as his father, Jim Herbstreit, was a former co-captain and assistant coach for the Buckeyes.
He is best known for his work on ESPN’s College GameDay and as a color commentator for major college football games.
Herbstreit recently revealed that former Ohio State quarterback Will Howard faced death threats after the Buckeyes’ one-point loss to Oregon last season.
The game ended 32-31 after Howard took a knee, preventing Ohio State from attempting a final field goal.
Herbstreit described the backlash as brutal, noting how social media gives people direct reach to players, often in harmful ways.
Kirk Herbstreit Comes From A Football-Oriented Family!
Kirk Herbstreit, of white Caucasian ethnicity, was born on August 19, 1969, in Centerville, Ohio, USA, to parents Judy and Jim Herbstreit.
His father, Jim, was a co-captain of Ohio State’s football team in 1960 and later served as an assistant coach at Ohio State.
His deep connection to Ohio State football influenced Kirk’s own path, as Kirk followed in his footsteps by playing quarterback for the Buckeyes.
When Kirk was named co-captain of the Buckeyes in 1992, he and his father became only the second father-son duo to hold that honor at Ohio State.
While Jim is no longer with us, his influence is evident in Kirk’s approach to football analysis and his dedication to mentoring young athletes.
On the other hand, his mother, Judy, was a homemaker. Unlike Kirk and his father, who were deeply involved in college football, she maintained a private life, staying out of the public eye.
Kirk And His Wife, Allison Herbstreit, Have Built A Football Legacy, Continuing The Tradition Started By Jim!
Kirk has passed down this football tradition to his four sons, Tye, Jake, Zak, and Chase Herbstreit.
All of them have been involved in football at different levels, continuing their family’s athletic legacy.
Tye and Jake, twin brothers, played high school football at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee. They later joined Clemson University as walk-on athletes.
While Tye continued playing as a wide receiver, Jake later transferred to Ohio State University to focus on academics.
Zak Herbstreit followed in his father’s footsteps, playing high school football at Montgomery Bell Academy.
In 2021, he joined the Ohio State Buckeyes as a preferred walk-on tight end.
The youngest, Chase, is shaping up to be a promising quarterback at St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio, as part of the class of 2025.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Before his broadcasting career, Herbstreit was a quarterback for Ohio State University, where he played from 1989 to 1993.
- He shared personal news about his wife, Allison’s breast cancer diagnosis, which was revealed in early 2025.
