Legendary Sports Reporter Chris Mortensen Passes Away

Chris Mortensen, the longtime NFL reporter for ESPN who covered the league for more than 40 years, has passed away at the age of 72, according to E! News. He had retired from the sports desk just last year.

“Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hard-working teammate,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “He covered the NFL with extraordinary skill and passion, and was at the top of his field for decades. He will truly be missed by colleagues and fans, and our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones.”

The Torrance, California native attended El Camino College before serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. After leaving his cleats in the high school locker room, he entered the rough-and-tumble world of sports journalism, first at the local Daily Breeze where he earned an award-winning start to his career, including the 1978 National Headliner Award for Investigative Reporting.

Through the majority of the 1980s, Mortensen reported for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, covering the Braves and Falcons and earning a George Polk Award along the way. However, it was his jump to ESPN in 1991 that really fast-tracked Mortensen’s path to a place in sports journalism history.

There, he contributed to many programs including NFL GameDay, Sunday NFL Countdown, and Monday Night Countdown, as a contributor to SportsCenter and as an analyst for the cable network’s NFL draft coverage. Throughout his career, he received 18 awards in journalism and was nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes.

Mortensen’s first brush with mortality came in 2016 when he announced he would be “temporarily stepping away” from the network after a throat cancer diagnosis. He underwent several rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, which thankfully “virtually reduced to zero detection of the disease through the latest scans and exams,” he said at the time.

Last September, Mortensen announced his final goodbye to ESPN after 23 years.

“Excited about another season but it’s time to reveal after my 33rd NFL draft in April, I made a decision to step away from ESPN and focus on my health, family and faith,” he wrote on X. “The gratitude and humility is overwhelming. It’s not a classic retirement. I’ll still be here talking ball. It’s just time. God Bless you all,” he wrote in a statement.

A host of current and former NFL stars paid tribute to Mortensen upon learning the news.

“Heartbroken,” wrote former quarterback Peyton Manning on Instagram, alongside a photo of himself with Chris. “We lost a true legend. Mort was the best in the business and I cherished our friendship. I trusted him with my announcement to sign with the Broncos and with the news of my retirement. I will miss him dearly and my thoughts and prayers are with Micki & his family. Rest in peace, Mort.”

RIP Chris Mortensen
One of the best in the business.@NFL @AroundTheNFL @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/f5A3uzRS4D

— Michael Vick (@MichaelVick) March 4, 2024

The news of Chris Mortensen’s passing hits so hard for so many of us. Mort was there for information, guidance, high end journalism and humor .. often times he gave us all of that and more in the same day. He supported and championed so many of the people who cover the NFL…

— MikeTirico (@miketirico) March 4, 2024

Chris Mortensen, with whom I once worked at The National, had a career that was a hymn to the best of our business. And was even a better man than he was a reporter. He is gone now, after a long, brave battle against cancer. It was an honor to have known him.

— Mike Lupica (@MikeLupica) March 3, 2024

Chris Mortensen personified “faith, family and football”. An “original” in his field and recognized as the best to ever do it, yet his humbleness, sincerity and expertise always shined through. Heartfelt condolences for his family and countless friends. Our loss, heaven’s gain.

— Phil Savage (@PhilSavage) March 4, 2024