Did Kirk Herbstreit play in the NFL? What to know about Amazon broadcaster's playing days
From high schools in the Midwest to colleges and the pros, Kirk Herbstreit is seemingly always on the gridiron. He's been a mainstay on the set at ESPN's "College Gameday," and more recently waded into the NFL waters as the analyst in the booth for Amazon's "Thursday Night Football" package.
Aside from the pregame shows, in-game analysis and content from his golden retriever, Ben, Herbstreit's commentary and credibility is built more on longevity than on-field name recognition.
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Here's what you need to know about Herbstreit's playing career on the football field and whether he ever turned pro.
Did Kirk Herbstreit play in the NFL?
Herbstreit was a quarterback at Ohio State, but did not go on to play in the NFL. In a world where former players typically end up with the lead analyst headset, Herbstreit is the exception.
The ESPN analyst's playing career spanned four seasons at Ohio State from 1989 to 1992, serving as a backup for a majority of that time. Herbstreit graduated in 1993 with a Bachelor's degree in business administration. The Ohio native would go on to join ESPN as a sideline reporter in 1995 and has continued to move up the ranks ever since.
Herbstreit and his partner, Chris Fowler, call some of the biggest games in college football, including the national championship game every year. On the NFL side, he is paired with Al Michaels on Thursday nights.
Despite never suiting up in an NFL game, it's Herbstreit's experience that makes him one of the most recognizable names in the business.
Kirk Herbstreit Ohio State stats
The former Buckeye appeared in 38 games across his four years at Ohio State. Herbstreit was the starter for his senior season in which he posted a 58.7 completion percentage to go along with 1,904 passing yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions.
Kirk Herbstreit salary, contract details
While the exact numbers are murky, Herbstreit's reported salary is certainly a hefty one. According to former New York Post reporter Andrew Marchand in 2022, Amazon is paying Herbstreit at "eight figures a year" for his work on Thursday nights in the fall.
Various outlets have suggested that Herbstreit's ESPN salary hovers around the $4 million mark, but details remain scarce there as well.