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 made an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” where he not only discussed the medical complications his son, Buckeyes tight end Zak Herbstreit, endured, but he also revealed that his wife, Ally, had received a diagnosis of breast cancer. .
“It was almost like a perfect storm for me,” Herbstreit told McAfee and his team about his emotions during the postgame show as Ohio State celebrated the victory. “My son had heart failure two years ago, and they were talking about a heart replacement for a while. He had to retire medically, and I think of how grateful I am to Ryan Day who put her arms around Zak and kept him involved.
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ABC football analyst Kirk Herbstreit looks on before the college football game between the Oregon Ducks and the Arizona State Sun Devils on November 23, 2019, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe , in Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Abele/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“…Ally, my wife, has been dealing with some things. It’s been a tough year for me behind the scenes. My wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, you know (the family dog) Ben passed away. It was just a lot of emotion, and when you do what we do, you endure.
“I think what happened, when they won, I was so happy for Ryan Day and those players, what they faced and everything they went through. It was almost like a relief, and it got the better of me.”
OHIO STATE FOOTBALL ALUM KIRK HERBSTREIT BREAKS DOWN DURING BROADCAST AFTER BUCKEYES WON NATIONAL TITLE
The Herbstreits met during their time together at Ohio State, where Kirk was a four-year letterman as a quarterback and Ally was a cheerleader. They had four sons together after their marriage, including Zak, who remained with the Buckeyes despite having to medically retire following his heart failure.
After announcing the Buckeyes’ 34-23 victory alongside Chris Fowler, Herbstreit was on the postgame show when Scott Van Pelt decided to start with the Ohio State alum after seeing him tears in my eyes.
Herbstreit didn’t mention what he said to McAfee, but he talked about the resiliency of this Buckeyes group this season.
ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit is on the field before the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Ohio State Buckeyes on December 31, 2022 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in ‘Atlanta. (Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“Oh, don’t start with me, man,” Herbstreit, who grew up about an hour from Ohio State in Centerville, told Van Pelt during the postgame show. “I’m a little emotional. I’m just excited for 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 .”
When the cameras returned to the broadcast booth, Herbstreit was seen grabbing a tissue off camera to wipe away tears while Fowler continued to speak.
Kirk Herbstreit watches from the sidelines before 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 endured the college and NFL seasons as he also works alongside Al Michaels on TV’s “Thursday Night Football.” Prime Video.
