Mortensen who spent more than three decades covering the NFL for ESPN died Sunday morning, his family announced.
Chris Mortensen, an award-winning journalist who spent more than three decades covering the National Football League (NFL) for ESPN, died on Sunday morning, his family announced. He was 72.
Mortensen, who reported his retirement in September 2023, to focus on his “health, family and faith”—joined ESPN in 1991 and for the next 33 years was one of the industry’s leading voices, providing insights and analysis across the network’s platforms, from “Sunday NFL Countdown” to “SportsCenter.” One of the preeminent NFL news breakers began his reporting career in 1969 at the South Bay (California) Daily Breeze, and over a decorated run received 18 awards in journalism, per ESPN, to go along with two Pulitzer Prize nominations.
“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 1987 George Polk Award-winner for reporting was diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer in January 2016, per ESPN—though still managed to share the scoop on Peyton Manning’s retirement from football shortly after.
“Mort helped set the journalism standard in the early days of ESPN.” Norby Williamson, executive editor and head of studio production for ESPN, said in a statement. “His credibility, attention to detail and reporting skills catapulted our news and information to a new level,” “More importantly, he was a great teammate and human being.
