On Sunday, the NFL world mourns the loss of one of their most seasoned reporters, ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Mortensen, a California native, was a stalwart in NFL reporting for over 30 years, leaving an indelible mark on the sport’s media landscape. Numerous sources, including ESPN, confirmed his passing at 72. He is survived by his wife, Micki, and son Alex.
NFL fans quickly took to Twitter (also known as X) to share their condolences with the Mortensen family. Mortensen became a well-known fixture in football media, becoming a reporter for the hit show Sunday NFL Countdown.
NFL Fans: Grieve the Loss of Chris Mortensen
Mortensen was a familiar face on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, showcasing his dedication to the sport. His roles were not limited to reporting; he also served as an analyst during the NFL draft, demonstrating his versatility and depth of knowledge. The news of his passing on Sunday has left NFL fans at a loss for words. He was 72.
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…
— Mike Greenberg (@Espngreeny) March 3, 2024
Chris Mortensen was the best insider- definitely a legend.
I’ll never forget this interview
“Who the hell is Mel Kiper anyway!?” #RIPMort 🐐 pic.twitter.com/SZouKGAZj3
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) March 3, 2024
Being able to cover behind the scenes of Chris Mortensen during the 2018 NFL Draft was hands down one of most memorable moments of my career. I remember thinking how lucky I was to be sitting there to witness, and he was so incredibly kind to everyone he interacted with. RIP 🕊️🕊️ pic.twitter.com/hyLK7z5lLG
— Brendan Kaminsky (@BKaminsky) March 3, 2024
Chris Mortensen was a shining example for everyone who does this job. Kind to all. Thoughtful and principled. He knew he had the best job in the world and never took it for granted. I cherished every conversation with him and feel lucky to have called him a friend. RIP, Mort. https://t.co/RPXp7mVnhv
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 3, 2024
One time for Chris Mortensen! #RIP 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/y0d2L855zx
— Greg Jennings (@GregJennings) March 3, 2024
Chris Mortensen is the person I strived to be like when I was young. And after the friendship we developed, he remained the type of person I want to be as I grow older.
I am forever indebted to him for all the ways he inspired me — both before and after I got the privilege to… pic.twitter.com/aqz374nKXu
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) March 3, 2024
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…
— Mike Tannenbaum (@RealTannenbaum) March 3, 2024
Chris Mortensen was one of the kindest people in this business. His faith was inspirational & worthy of imitation. He walked the walk! #RIPMort
— Dave Pasch (@DavePasch) March 3, 2024
Man, hearing @MoveTheSticks talk about Chris Mortensen got me all choked up
Said Mort was hitting him up yesterday to talk about Spencer Rattler
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) March 3, 2024
Chris Mortensen: Storied Career as a Journalist
Mortensen started his journalism career in 1969, working for his hometown newspaper, the Daily Breeze. In 1983, he began working for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, covering the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Falcons, and the NFL. In 1987, he won the George Polk Award, given to a reporter “to honor excellence in print and broadcast journalism.” He transitioned to The National in 1989, where he spent two years. He joined ESPN in 1991.
Mortensen’s work for ESPN started in 1991, becoming a regular on the hit NFL pregame show, Sunday NFL Countdown (also known as NFL GameDay and NFL Countdown). Mortensen became a frequent contributor outside of football season, becoming an NFL draft analyst. Mortensen, author of the 1991 book Playing for Keeps: How One Man Kept the Mob from Sinking Its Hooks into Pro Football, left ESPN following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL draft. In the near decade prior, Mortensen had been in a battle with Stage IV throat cancer.
During his storied reporting career, he received 18 awards in journalism. In 1978, Mortensen won the National Headliner Award for Investigative Reporting. ESPN released a statement on the day of his passing. “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.”
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