Sad news from the sports world as ESPN legend and NFL reporter Chris Mortensen passed away Sunday morning at the age of 72. Mortensen had been battling stage 4 throat cancer since his diagnosis in 2016. The NFL insider stepped away from the network after the 2023 NFL Draft, saying that he needed to prioritize his health and family.
Mortensen Tweeted at the time: “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.” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro released a statement saying, “Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hard-working teammate. 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.”
Mortensen started his long career at his hometown paper, the Daily Breeze, in Torrance, California. After success there, he moved on to a larger market with more opportunity, moving on to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. While there, he covered the Major League Baseball Braves from 1983-1985 and the NFL Atlanta Falcons as a beat reporter from 1985-1988.
In 1987, Mort, as he was called, switched to coverage of the entire NFL, earning the prestigious George Polk Award for his excellence in the field. From there, Mort joined The National, covering the NFL for two more years before making the leap to “the Worldwide Leader” ESPN.
Mortensen was also well known as the reporter primarily responsible for the “Deflategate” controversy involving the New England Patriots. In the 2015 AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts, Mortensen Tweeted a report that 11 of the 12 footballs the Patriots used in the home game were underinflated. NFL rules mandate 2 pounds per square inch for footballs used in gameplay. However, an official investigation known as the Wells Report debunked Mort’s claims. ESPN stood by the reporter and the report, as did Chris Mortensen. The Patriots would go on to defeat the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl.
Following the announcement, tribute started pouring in for the late NFL insider. Mike Greenberg of ESPN Tweeted: “Chris Mortensen was one of the kindest, most generous gentlemen you could ever come across, in any field. His professionalism and decency earned him universal admiration – his enthusiasm and good nature made him everyone’s friend. His mark on the business will last a long time, his impact on those of us lucky enough to know him well will last the rest of our lives. Rest in peace, Mort. We will treasure your memory forever.”
Fellow colleague and current ESPN personality Mike Tannenbaum added: “I’m absolutely devastated to hear about the passing of Chris Mortensen. While he was a titan and a pioneer in our profession, he was also the kindest and most generous person to me. He was a mentor to some many of us at ESPN. He will be missed, but his legacy of kindness and giving will remain with us. Rest in peace my friend.”
For NFL fans and fantasy football enthusiasts, Chris Mortensen was a trusted source of information and inside analysis on Sunday morning. For insiders in the industry, he was a friend, colleague, and mentor. He was a legend in his field, and his loss will be felt across the sports world.
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