Chris Mortensen, longtime NFL reporter for ESPN, dies at 72

[ad_1]

Chris Mortensen, the award-winning journalist who lined the NFL for near 4 a long time, together with 32 as a senior analyst at ESPN, died Sunday morning. He was 72.

ESPN confirmed Mortensen’s dying on Sunday. There was no instant phrase on the trigger or place of dying.

“Mort was extensively revered as an business pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hardworking teammate,” ESPN president Jimmy Pitaro stated in a statement. “He lined the NFL with extraordinary ability and keenness, and was on the prime of his area for many years. He’ll really be missed by colleagues and followers, and our hearts and ideas are along with his family members.”

Mortensen announced in 2016 that he he had been identified with throat most cancers. Even whereas present process remedy, he was the primary to verify the retirement of Corridor of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning.

“We misplaced a real legend,” Manning said in a social media post. “Mort was one of the best within the enterprise and I cherished our friendship. I trusted him with my announcement to signal with the Broncos and with the information of my retirement. I’ll miss him dearly and my ideas and prayers are with Micki & his household. Relaxation in peace, Mort.”

Mortensen introduced his retirement after the NFL draft final 12 months in order that he might “give attention to my well being, household and religion.”

NFL Community analyst Daniel Jeremiah said through the finish of protection on the NFL Scouting Mix on Sunday that Mortensen texted him to ask how he thought Spencer Rattler would do through the quarterback exercises in Indianapolis.

“He’s simply one of many sweetest souls you should have ever met, and he cherished his sport,” Jeremiah stated. “That’s why once we discovered about this, the very last thing I need to do is come out right here. However, man, he would punch me within the face if we didn’t if we didn’t do that and have enjoyable and revel in this nice recreation that he cherished a lot.”

Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991, and for years helped form the community’s protection because the NFL exploded into year-round protection. Apart from showing on a myriad of community exhibits, he additionally wrote for ESPN.com.

“Chris will eternally be a part of the NFL household. Cherished by so many, he was an excellent voice for the sport and as passionate and proficient as there has ever been,” Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones stated in an announcement. “My appreciation and respect got here rapidly for Chris as I visited with him usually in Austin throughout my early years. We bonded enormously there.”

He acquired the Dick McCann Award from the Skilled Soccer Writers of America in 2016. It was renamed to the Invoice Nunn Jr. Award in 2021 and is introduced yearly through the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame ceremonies to the reporter who has made an extended and distinguished contribution via their protection of the sport.

“I admired how onerous Chris labored to grow to be one of the crucial influential and revered reporters in sports activities. He earned our respect and that of many others along with his relentless pursuit of reports but in addition with the kindness he prolonged to everybody he met,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated in an announcement. “He can be enormously missed by many people within the league who have been lucky to know him nicely past the tales he broke every Sunday.”

Mortensen additionally labored for the Atlanta Journal-Structure from 1983-89. He lined the Atlanta Falcons from 1985-86 and the league from 1985-89. He left for The Nationwide in 1989 and labored there for practically two years.

He was an NFL columnist for The Sporting Information and a contributing author for Sport journal. He was additionally a advisor for CBS’ “The NFL Immediately” in 1990.

“I thought of Chris a private hero of my mine and it’s really onerous to think about sports activities journalism with out him. His capacity to tackle life’s obstacles with grit and dedication was all the time really inspiring and his monumental influence on so many, me included, will stay on via this work and unwavering friendships,” Falcons proprietor Arthur Clean stated in an announcement.

A local of Torrance, California, Mortensen attended El Camino Faculty. He served two years within the Military earlier than he started his journalism profession on the South Bay (Calif.) Every day Breeze in 1969.

“A fully devastating day. Mort was one of many best reporters in sports activities historical past, and an excellent higher man,” stated ESPN NFL reporter Adam Schefter on social media. “Mort was the perfect. He can be eternally missed and remembered.”

He’s survived by his spouse, Micki, and son, Alex.