Kirk Herbstreit explains why life-changing lessons are more important than NIL money, transfer portal

College football analyst Kirk Herbstreit spoke about the importance of learning lessons as a backup to him instead of pursuing NIL money. In an appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, Herbstreit recounted his own college career’s beginning and the lessons he learned fighting through adversity — in comparison to players using the NCAA Transfer Portal to pursue new schools or NIL money.

Kirk Herbstreit on the importance of learning tough lessons

As McAfee asked Herbstreit about the current state of NIL money and boosters influencing recruiting across college football, McAfee asked where Herbstreit fell on the issue. Before his response, McAfee asked aloud if the changing of schools was good for the game itself — even if players were receiving “life-changing money” for their play.

“I don’t know if it’s life-changing money,” said Herbstreit. “I think it sounds good, but when you really get out there — there are a handful of guys that are making some good money. I just worry about these guys chasing short-term money to potentially wreck their futures.

“I never played a down in the NFL and I went through hell and back in my college career. Didn’t love my assistant coach, my position coach. Didn’t love my coordinators until my last year. I would be a prime example of a guy that would have left — you know, five-star guy that’s not happy, it’s his first or second year [and] he just leaves. And I endured, not to pat me on the back, but what I learned through that — holy s**t, it’s a game-changer. For me as a dad, as a husband, as an employee — I’ve really went and learned about what I was capable of digging in and accomplishing.

“And then my senior year I was able to play and be a captain and all that at the end. If I didn’t go through that, I don’t know if I would’ve had those same feelings about myself and what I learned about going through that adversity. I think being challenged is really a healthy thing to go through as an 18-22 year old guy. It helps you figure out life a little bit.”