Chris Mortensen, an award-winning journalist who reported on the NFL for ESPN for greater than three a long time, died Sunday morning on the age of 72, his household introduced.
Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991 and was an everyday contributor to the community’s NFL reveals and “SportsCenter.” He was an everyday 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 in the course of 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 lined the NFL with extraordinary ability and fervour, and was on the prime of his discipline for many years. He’ll actually 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 completely devastating day. Mort was one of many best reporters in sports activities historical past, and an excellent higher man. Sincerest condolences to his household, and all who knew and beloved him. So many did. Mort was the easiest. He shall be perpetually 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 deal with 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 abilities catapulted our information and knowledge to a brand new degree,” Norby Williamson, government editor and head of studio manufacturing for ESPN, mentioned in a press release. “Extra importantly, he was a fantastic teammate and human being. He personified care and respect for folks which grew to become the tradition of ESPN.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned Mortensen’s demise was a “unhappy day for everybody within the NFL.”
“I admired how exhausting Chris labored to develop into one of the vital 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 in addition with the kindness he prolonged to everybody he met. He shall be enormously 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 demise.
“We misplaced a real legend,” Manning mentioned in his submit. “Mort was the most effective 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 received 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 each day The Nationwide, working there from 1989 to 1990 earlier than coming to ESPN.
“I be a 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 understanding Chris by way 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 way of the various years which have adopted. I thought of Chris a private hero of my mine and it’s actually exhausting to think about sports activities journalism with out him.
“His capability to tackle life’s obstacles with grit and willpower was all the time actually inspiring and his monumental impression on so many, me included, will dwell on by way of this work and unwavering friendships. I ship my deepest condolences to Chris’ household and pals, 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 advisor with CBS Sports activities’ “NFL In the present day” (1990).
“Chris will perpetually be a part of the NFL household. Liked by so many, he was an excellent voice for the sport and as passionate and proficient as there has ever been,” Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones mentioned in a press release. “He shall 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, received 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 creator of the e-book “Taking part in 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 School earlier than serving two years within the Military.
He’s survived by his spouse, Micki, and son, Alex.
