Chris Mortensen at Legion Field on February 16, 2019 in Birmingham, Alabama.Photo:Kevin C. Cox/AAF/Getty
Kevin C. Cox/AAF/Getty
Award-winning journalistChris Mortensen, who spent over three decades at ESPN, has died at the age of 72.
The networkannounced the newsof Mortensen’s death on Sunday, referring to him as an “industry pioneer” and a “hard-working teammate.”
A cause of death has not been revealed. Mortensen, whoESPNnoted was diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer in January 2016, announced that he was stepping away from the network in 2023 to focus on his “health, family and faith.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the ESPN set with Chris Mortensen in 2006.Al Messerschmidt/Getty
Al Messerschmidt/Getty
Throughout Mortensen’s extensive career covering the NFL, the California native worked at both theAtlanta Journal-ConstitutionandThe Nationalbefore joining the network in 1991, per ESPN. He was also a published author, releasingPlaying for Keeps: How One Man Stopped the Mob from Sinking its Hooks into Pro Footballin 1991.
Mortensen won multiple writing awards throughout his career, including the George Polk Award in 1987 for reporting, the National Headliner Award for investigative reporting in all categories in 1978, and earned two Pulitzer Prize nominations alongside his 18 total awards, per ESPN. He won the Pro Football Writers of America’s Dick McCann Award in 2016.
Peyton Manning talks with ESPN sideline reporter Chris Mortensen in 2005.A. Messerschmidt/Getty
A. Messerschmidt/Getty
Other big names, such asPeyton Manning, shared personal anecdotes about the award-winning journalist on social media, where Manning called him a “true legend.”
“Mort was the best in the business and I cherished our friendship,” Manning wrote on Instagram. “I trusted him with my announcement to sign with the Broncos and with the news of my retirement. I will miss him dearly and my thoughts and prayers are with Micki & his family. Rest in peace, Mort.”
source: people.com
