Who Is ESPN Commentator Kirk Herbstreit’s Wife? All About Alison Herbstreit (and Their Shared Love of the Ohio State Buckeyes!)

ESPN commentator Kirk Herbstreit and his wife, Alison Herbstreit (née Butler), have been through different chapters of their lives together.

When the couple met during their college years at Ohio State University, Alison was a cheerleader, while Kirk played football and was the quarterback for the Ohio State Buckeyes from 1989 to 1993. Since then, they have celebrated over two decades of marriage alongside their four sons: Jake, Tye, Zak and Chase. The couple are also proud dog parents, sharing their home with three golden retrievers (they recently mourned the loss of their beloved dog, Ben, in November 2024).

Kirk may be a sports commentator for college football on ESPN and the NFL on Prime Video, but he tends to keep his personal life private. Alison doesn’t appear to have a public social media presence, and her husband seldom posts photos of their family online.

During an August 2009 interview with Columbus Monthly magazine, Kirk shared a rare glimpse into their relationship and how they balance his hectic work schedule with raising their children.

“My wife is such a blessing,” he told the outlet at the time. “She’s so understanding of my schedule. As much as we kid about it being my turn with the kids (when I get home), she’s really not like that at all. I don’t know how she does it. I have no idea.”

So who is Kirk Herbstreit’s wife? Here’s everything to know about Alison Herbstreit and her relationship with the sportscaster.

She was a cheerleader at Ohio State

Ohio State University plays a special role in the Herbstreit family. While Kirk followed in the footsteps of his father, Jim Herbstreit, a co-captain of the 1960 Ohio State team and an assistant coach, the Buckeye legacy comes from Alison, too.

Alison was a cheerleader at the college and was a member of the squad in 1993, according to Ohio State. Her time as a cheerleader was remembered by sports commentator Chris Fowler during a November 2023 appearance on The Dan Patrick Show.

He recalled a story about how sports broadcaster and former coach Lee Corso came to wear the Ohio State University mascot’s head on College GameDay, giving a nod to Alison.

“It started out with a baseball hat, then it was a helmet and then, the Ohio State game where you famously saw Brutus the Buckeye’s head, asked for it,” he explained. “They politely said no, and then they negotiated because Kirk Herbstreit’s wife Alison was a part of the cheerleading team. That’s a true story, and they finally convinced them.”

She and Kirk share four children

Kirk and Alison are the proud parents of four sons: twins Jake and Tye, Zak, and Chase. Much like their father, all of the couple’s kids play football.

Despite their family’s long legacy at Ohio State University, Jake and Tye both initially played for Clemson University, starting as walk-ons for the team. They addressed their Buckeye loyalty during a November 2018 interview with TigerNet, with Jake telling the outlet that he grew up as an Ohio State fan his entire life.

“I’ve always loved the Buckeyes, but I just kind of wanted to choose my own path and go out and have a different experience other than up north,” he added.

Tye said that he was “still a Buckeye fan at heart,” before noting that he was “excited to rep some new jerseys” and was “really excited to be part of Clemson.”

While Tye played for the Clemson Tigers from 2019 to 2022 and appeared in 12 games, Jake left the university in 2021, according to USA Today. Jake ultimately leaned into the Herbstreit legacy, and according to his Instagram bio, he graduated from Ohio State University in 2024.

Meanwhile, Zak went on to play football at Ohio State as a tight end, joining the team in 2021 as a preferred walk-on. He’s currently in his fourth season after he was hospitalized in June 2023 due to heart issues.

Lastly, Chase is a senior in high school, where he’s a quarterback on the football team.

They have lived in Ohio and Tennessee

While Kirk and Alison’s hearts are with Ohio, they’ve lived around the country due to the sportscaster’s job.

Kirk and his family lived in Ohio full-time until they moved to Nashville in March 2011. At the time, he told The Columbus Dispatch that he had been mulling over the move to Tennessee for several years due to criticism from Ohio State fans.

“Nobody loves Ohio State more than me,” Kirk told the publication. “But I’ve got a job to do, and I’m going to continue to be fair and objective. To continue to have to defend myself and my family in regards to my love and devotion to Ohio State is unfair.”

He shared that he and Alison looked at several cities before settling on their choice of Nashville and said that “from a sports perspective, this is rough.”

However, Kirk and Alison made their return as a family back to Ohio in 2021 — at least temporarily — for his youngest son’s schooling.

“We have a lot of respect for … the school and the culture. We’re going to try and make it work,” he told The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Kirk and Alison planned on keeping their home outside of Nashville while also renting a spot in Cincinnati where their son would attend school. The couple aimed to make trips back to Columbus to Ohio State, where their two sons, Jake and Zak, attended college as well.

They recently lost one of their beloved dogs

Kirk and Alison not only have four sons, but they are also dog parents to Peter, Theo, Mitch and the late Ben.

The sports commentator has posted photos and videos of the family’s golden retrievers on social media. Ben became the most well-known of the bunch, as he was often with Kirk at work and regularly appeared on TV.

Kirk was open about Ben’s health issues, sharing on X (formerly Twitter) in September 2024 that he was diagnosed with leukemia several months earlier in March. Two months later, Kirk revealed that Ben wasn’t doing well.

In an emotional Instagram post on Nov. 7, Kirk announced that after a long health battle, Ben had died at age 10. In the tribute to his dog, he described him as “smart-loving-gentle-patient-inquisitive-and welcoming to all.”

“He and I could communicate..he and I understood each other and had each others backs,” Kirk added. “He was with me more than anyone at home and traveling with me for work. Such an easy going companion. Hard day-but he will live within all of us forever.”

Kirk is “so grateful” for Alison

While Kirk rarely shares details about his personal life on social media, including moments with his wife, he has posted heartfelt tributes to Alison on Mother’s Day over the years.

In May 2021, Kirk shared a photo of Alison posing with their four sons, along with Ben. In the caption, he penned a short but sweet note for the holiday, writing, “Happy Mother’s Day!! Alli with her boys Tye Chase Ben Jake and Zak!”

Kirk marked the occasion once again in May 2023, this time sharing a snap of Alison embracing their children.

“Happy Mothers Day to Alli and all the Moms! So grateful for all you do!!” he wrote in the caption. “There’s not a bigger more important job in America than a loving Mother. They’re the foundation for all of us.”

He added, “A Mothers love is different-it’s unconditional and enduring. Happy Mothers Day Moms and thank you for all you do-EVERY DAY!”