The sudden death of UNLV football player Ben Christman shook the college sports community earlier this week. The 21-year-old offensive lineman died in February after suffering cardiac arrhythmia and cardiomyopathy, conditions that affect heart rhythm and muscle function. As the football world mourned, some online voices immediately turned the tragedy into a battleground over COVID-19 vaccines.
ESPN college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit wasn’t having it. He publicly pushed back at anti-vaccine speculation online, calling the politicized claims not only baseless but deeply disrespectful. “Please don’t take the low hanging fruit and make it about Covid—the vaccine—or your politics,” he wrote on X. “This has been an issue for several decades.”
Herbstreit Calls For Action, Not Blame
Herbstreit, whose own son was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at age 20, used Christman’s death to highlight a long-overdue conversation about heart health in young athletes. “Too many young people are asymptomatic and unaware of any issues that exist,” he said. “A mandated Echo could help save lives.”
He urged the NCAA and conference commissioners to consider mandatory echocardiograms- a test that uses ultrasound to examine heart function- for all college athletes. He acknowledged the high cost but argued that saving lives should take priority.
When asked by an X user whether Christman had received the COVID-19 vaccine, Herbstreit responded firmly. “I have no idea about Ben and his health history, and respectfully, this isn’t about politics,” he said. He pointed out that heart issues like cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia have affected his own family for generations and shouldn’t be used to fuel vaccine misinformation.
I have no idea about Ben and his health history and respectfully this isn’t about politics. Heart disease-cardiac arrhythmia-irregular heartbeat have been an issues with young people for generations! My grandfather-aunt-brother-myself all diagnosed with cardiomyopathy.
— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) May 9, 2025
All these… https://t.co/TeXZOiQIhA
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
Medical reports revealed Christman underwent an EKG on February 10 after experiencing chest pain. A cardiologist reviewed the test but found no significant concerns. He returned home after practice that day, and the next morning, a teammate found him unresponsive. According to police documents, Christman had foam around his mouth and purple fingers. First responders declared him deceased at the scene.
Christman started his college career at Ohio State before transferring to UNLV. His death has sparked widespread grief- and now, a renewed conversation about athlete health.
In the wake of the loss, Herbstreit’s call for action reflects a broader concern many in the athletic community share. Rather than chasing political narratives, he’s urging the NCAA and schools nationwide to invest in proactive care that could save future lives.
Also Read: Social Media Is Calling For ESPN To Fire NFL Draft Analyst Mel Kiper
