Tributes Pour in for Beloved ESPN NFL Reporter

Chris Mortensen, an award-winning journalist who spent greater than three a long time overlaying the Nationwide Soccer League (NFL) for ESPN, died on Sunday morning, his household introduced. He was 72.

Mortensen, who reported his retirement in September 2023, to give attention to his “well being, household and religion”—joined ESPN in 1991 and for the subsequent 33 years was one of many trade’s main voices, offering insights and evaluation throughout the community’s platforms, from “Sunday NFL Countdown” to “SportsCenter.” One of many preeminent NFL information breakers started his reporting profession in 1969 on the South Bay (California) Day by day Breeze, and over a adorned run acquired 18 awards in journalism, per ESPN, to go together with two Pulitzer Prize nominations.

“Mort was broadly revered as an trade pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hard-working teammate,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro stated in a press release. “He coated the NFL with extraordinary ability and keenness, and was on the high of his subject for many years. He’ll actually be missed by colleagues and followers, and our hearts and ideas are together with his family members.”

Mortensen—whose different reporting stops included the Atlanta Journal-Structure and The Sporting Information, amongst extra bylines—was acknowledged with the celebrated Professional Soccer Writers of America’s Dick McCann Award in 2016. That August, the U.S. Military veteran was honored in the course of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame’s enshrinement ceremony.

The 1987 George Polk Award-winner for reporting was recognized with Stage 4 throat most cancers in January 2016, per ESPN—although nonetheless managed to share the news on Peyton Manning’s retirement from soccer shortly after.

“Mort helped set the journalism customary within the early days of ESPN.” Norby Williamson, government editor and head of studio manufacturing for ESPN, stated in a press release. “His credibility, consideration to element and reporting expertise catapulted our information and data to a brand new stage,” “Extra importantly, he was an amazing teammate and human being. He personified care and respect for folks which grew to become the tradition of ESPN.”

The reason for Mortensen’s loss of life has not but been made public. He’s survived by his spouse Micki and son Alex.

Whether or not it was recording a phase from the Tremendous Bowl or breaking a commerce on the NFL Draft, Mortensen was a fixture on TV screens for sports activities followers and a beloved presence inside the soccer neighborhood. After the announcement of his loss of life was made by ESPN shortly after 4 p.m. ET on Sunday, lots of his former colleagues and buddies remembered the NFL legend.

“A fully devastating day,” ESPN insider and longtime colleague with Mortensen, Adam Schefter, wrote on X. “Mort was one of many biggest reporters in sports activities historical past, and a good higher man. Sincerest condolences to his household, and all who knew and beloved him. So many did. Mort was the perfect. He might be perpetually missed and remembered.”

Fellow ESPN reporter Adrian Wojnarowski known as “Mort” an “absolute big of a person and journalist” on X and stated one of many biggest thrills of coming to ESPN was attending to study from Mortensen.

Jeff Passan, a Main League Baseball (MLB) reporter for the community, wrote in a separate submit that Mortensen was a “shining instance for everybody who does this job,” and described him as type to all, considerate and principled.

NFL Media’s Wealthy Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah took trip of their scouting mix broadcast to honor Mortensen’s reminiscence. A shaken Jeremiah known as Mortensen his “mentor” and one in all his finest buddies, who he was exchanging texts with as not too long ago as Saturday.

On its primary community, ESPN has additionally aired a tribute to one in all its foremost figures.

In one other of a seemingly countless quantity of on-line remembrances, ESPN’s Mike Greenberg known as Mortensen the “kindest, most beneficiant gents you would ever come throughout, in any subject.” In their very own social media posts, NBC’s Peter King known as Mortensen a “big in our enterprise, and a terrific particular person,” whereas ESPN’s Mina Kimes stated she was “fortunate to have recognized” one of many “kindest and funniest folks I’ve encountered in our trade.”

ESPN’s Jeff Darlington in an X submit wrote: “Chris Mortensen is the particular person I strived to be like after I was younger. And after the friendship we developed, he remained the kind of particular person I need to be as I get older.”

Sports activities Illustrated‘s Albert Breer wrote on X that it’s “powerful to place into phrases how a lot Chris Mortensen meant to our enterprise,” and shared a heat textual content message “Mort” had despatched him earlier than they even knew one another very properly.

Ari Meirov of the thirty third Staff described feeling “gutted” on the information.

“This hurts a lot,” he wrote on X. “Chris Mortensen was a titan on this trade and one of many folks I regarded as much as whereas rising up watching and studying the sport of soccer.”

The Atlanta Falcons are among the many NFL franchises to mourn Mortensen’s loss of life with on-line statements, with proprietor Arthur Clean saying partly, “I thought of Chris a private hero of mine and it’s actually exhausting to think about sports activities journalism with out him.”

Manning, through his Instagram account, stated he’s “heartbroken” and that “we misplaced a real legend. Mort was the perfect 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 and his household.”