Chris Mortensen, an award-winning reporter who covered the National Football League (NFL) for ESPN, passed away on Sunday morning at 72.
Mortensen, who joined ESPN in 1991, announced his retirement in September 2023 to prioritize his "health, family, and faith."
Chris Mortensen Dies at 72
ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said Mortensen was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hard-working teammate.
Pitaro shared that he covered the NFL with extraordinary skill and passion and was at the top of his field for decades, so colleagues and fans will truly miss him, and their hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones. In 2016, Mortensen revealed he was diagnosed with Stage IV throat cancer.
"An absolutely devastating day. Mort was one of the greatest reporters in sports history and an even better man. Mort was the very best. He will be forever missed and remembered," ESPN's Adam Schefter, a longtime colleague of Mortensen's on ESPN's 'Sunday NFL Countdown,' wrote on social media.
Norby Williamson, executive editor and head of studio production for ESPN, noted that Mortensen had set the journalism standard in the early days of ESPN, and his credibility, attention to detail, and reporting skills catapulted their news and information to a new level.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell expressed that Mortensen's death was a sad day for everyone in the NFL. Goodell praised Mortensen for being one of the most influential and respected reporters in sports. He said Mortensen earned their respect and that of many others with his relentless pursuit of news and his kindness to everyone he met.
He noted that he would be greatly missed by many of them in the league who were fortunate to know him well beyond the stories he broke each Sunday.
Furthermore, he extended his condolences to his family, colleagues, and the many people Mortensen touched throughout his life. He is survived by his wife, Micki, and son, Alex.
In a post to Instagram, former NFL passer Peyton Manning wrote that he was "heartbroken" by the news of Mortensen's passing. He wrote that they had lost a true legend as Mortensen was the best in the business and noted that he trusted him with his announcement to sign with the Broncos and the news of his retirement.
NFL's Award-Winning Reporter
According to Newsweek, Mortensen, one of the best NFL newsbreakers, started his reporting career in 1969 at the South Bay (California) Daily Breeze. Over an outstanding career, he received 18 awards in journalism and was nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes.
In 2016, he previously had bylines at The Sporting News and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and was honored with the prestigious Dick McCann Award from the Pro Football Writers of America.
Furthermore, in August of that year, he was recognized during the Pro Football Hall of Fame's enshrinement ceremony. ESPN said that even though the 1987 George Polk Award winner for reporting was diagnosed with Stage IV throat cancer, he was still able to provide the scoop on Peyton Manning's retirement from football shortly after.
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