Award-winning ESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen dies at 72

Chris Mortensen, an award-winning journalist who reported on the NFL for ESPN for greater than three many years, died Sunday morning on the age of 72, his household introduced.

Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991 and was a daily contributor to the community’s NFL reveals and “SportsCenter.” He was a daily information breaker for ESPN, together with the information in 2016 that quarterback Peyton Manning was retiring from the NFL.

In 2016, he obtained the Professional Soccer Writers of America’s Dick McCann Award and was honored through the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame’s enshrinement ceremony in August that 12 months.

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

ESPN’s Adam Schefter, a longtime colleague of Mortensen’s on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown,” mentioned on social media: “A fully devastating day. 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 liked him. So many did. Mort was the easiest. He will likely be ceaselessly missed and remembered.”

Mortensen, who was recognized with Stage 4 throat most cancers in January 2016, stepped away from his function at ESPN final 12 months “to give attention to my well being, household and religion,” he mentioned.

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

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned Mortensen’s loss of life was a “unhappy day for everybody within the NFL.”

“I admired how laborious Chris labored to turn out to be one of the crucial influential and revered reporters in sports activities,” Goodell mentioned in a press release. “He earned our respect and that of many others along with his relentless pursuit of stories but additionally with the kindness he prolonged to everybody he met. He will likely be tremendously missed by many people within the league who have been lucky to know him nicely past the tales he broke every Sunday.

“We ship our condolences to his household, his colleagues and the many individuals Chris touched all through his well-lived life.”

Manning, in a submit to Instagram, wrote that he was “heartbroken” by the information of Mortensen’s loss of life.

“We misplaced a real legend,” Manning mentioned in his submit. “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 & his household. Relaxation in peace, Mort.”

Earlier than coming to ESPN, Mortensen wrote for the Atlanta Journal-Structure (1983-1990), overlaying the Falcons, the Braves and the NFL, and he gained the George Polk Award in 1987 for his reporting. He additionally was one of many first writers employed by editor Frank Deford on the sports activities day by day The Nationwide, working there from 1989 to 1990 earlier than coming to ESPN.

“I be part of the immeasurable variety of hearts throughout the nation, in journalism and the sports activities neighborhood, as we mourn Chris Mortensen,” Falcons proprietor Arthur Clean mentioned in a press release. “I am grateful to have had the privilege of figuring out Chris by means of his unbelievable work starting at his days on the Atlanta Journal Structure and like so many, being blessed by his skilled excellence and private grace by means of the various years which have adopted. I thought-about Chris a private hero of my mine and it’s really laborious to think about sports activities journalism with out him.

“His means to tackle life’s obstacles with grit and willpower was all the time really inspiring and his huge affect on so many, me included, will stay on by means of this work and unwavering friendships. I ship my deepest condolences to Chris’ household and mates, and pray they discover peace within the honorable legacy and constructive affect that Chris leaves behind.”

Mortensen additionally was a columnist for The Sporting Information, a contributor to Sport journal and a guide with CBS Sports activities’ “NFL Right now” (1990).

“Chris will ceaselessly be a part of the NFL household. Cherished by so many, he was a superb voice for the sport and as passionate and gifted as there has ever been,” Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones mentioned in a press release. “He will likely be deeply missed and we’re grateful for the particular recollections and legacy Chris leaves us.”

Mortensen, who started his journalism profession on the South Bay (California) Day by day Breeze in 1969, gained the Nationwide Headliner Award for investigative reporting in all classes in 1978. He obtained 18 awards in journalism and was nominated for 2 Pulitzer Prizes in his profession.

He additionally was the writer of the e-book “Enjoying for Retains: How One Man Stopped the Mob from Sinking its Hooks into Professional Soccer.”

Mortensen, a local of Torrance, California, was born Nov. 7, 1951. He attended El Camino Faculty earlier than serving two years within the Military.

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