Kirk Herbstreit’s Unexpected Family Move Sparks Speculation—Here’s What’s Really Happening

Kirk Herbstreit’s life off the gridiron has always been a fascinating mix of deep Ohio State roots and a quest for peace away from the unrelenting glare of Buckeye fandom. But here’s a question that’s been rattling in my mind: how do you balance loving a place with the firestorm of its most ardent—and sometimes ruthless—fans? After more than a decade of living away from Columbus, amid cheers and jeers alike, Herbstreit is packing up once more. This time, he—and his family—are headed back to Nashville, a city where trails and golden retrievers seem to beat the chaos of college football fanaticism any day. It’s a move that says a lot about priorities, family, and the priceless pursuit of balance in a world where sports passion can sometimes go off the rails. Ready to dive into the full story behind Herbstreit’s big return and what really prompted the journey? LEARN MORE.

Kirk Herbstreit announced this week a major family move.

The former Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback, who works for ESPN and Amazon Prime, moved out of Columbus, Ohio more than a decade ago. While crazy Ohio State fans weren’t the sole reason for the move, they played a factor. Herbstreit, whose dad coached at Ohio State, opened up about the move in an interview with the Columbus Dispatch.

“Nobody loves Ohio State more than me,” Herbstreit told The Dispatch. “I still have a picture of Woody Hayes and my dad (Jim, a former OSU player) in my office, and nobody will do more than I do for the university behind the scenes. 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. …

“Eighty to ninety percent of the Ohio State fans are great. It’s the vocal minority that make it rough. They probably represent only 5 to 10 percent of the fan base, but they are relentless.”

Herbstreit has been living in Nashville, Tennessee for the past decade-plus. However, in recent years, his family got a home in Cincinnati, Ohio. His youngest son, Chase, was playing for St. Xavier in Cincinnati. The Herbstreits spent most of their time in Northern Ohio.

It sounds like that is about to change, though.

Herbstreit had a candid chat with Donnie Evege earlier this week. He announced during the conversation that his family is moving back to Nashville in June.

The Herbstreits never sold their Nashville home, instead renting a place in Cincinnati, to make things easy on their son.

“Our goal was to go back to our home in Nashville. We’re going to go back on June 1st, and we’re excited about that. One of the things my wife and I talk about, we miss, is there a trail,” Herbstreit said.

“One of the things my wife and I talk about that we miss is that there’s a trail. We just love it, and we go every day, and we miss that so much.”

The Herbstreits spend a lot of time outside, with their lovable golden retrievers.

Mitch and Peter pullin for the ⁦@Canes⁩ tonight. 1-1 heading to the 2nd period. 🏒 pic.twitter.com/ZtgMp2M4GI

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) April 17, 2025

The summer should be a relaxing time for Herbstreit and his family, before the craziness of football season begins.

Hopefully, they’ll enjoy their time in Nasvhille.