“Morty” Was Beloved By Colleagues And Players Alike
As ESPN sadly announced yesterday, legendary NFL reporter Chris Mortensen passed away on Sunday, March 3rd, after succumbing to his multi-year battle with throat cancer. “Mort,” as he was known to colleagues, players, and fans alike, was 72 years old.
Mortensen began his career working for his hometown newspaper, The Daily Breeze, in Torrance, California. He first began to rise to national prominence when he joined the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 1983, where he covered the Braves, Falcons, and the NFL.
In 1991, he joined ESPN, where he became a staple on programs like NFL Countdown, NFL Sunday Countdown, and the investigative series Outside The Lines. He also covered the NFL Draft for the network and appeared regularly on ESPN’s flagship show, SportsCenter.
His career was studded with awards for his honest, in-depth, and straightforward reporting, including a George Polk Award and two Pulitzer nominations.
Tributes To Mort From NFL Officials And Players
The NFL, colleagues, and players all loved and respected Mortensen, which is a rare feat for any reporter, let alone a sports reporter. It is a testament to the professionalism he always brought to his journalism in more than three decades at ESPN.
It didn’t take long for many people to begin sharing their respects and sorrow for his passing, starting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who called his death “a sad day for the NFL.”
“I admired how hard Chris worked to become one of the most influential and revered reporters in sports,” Goodell said in a statement. “He earned our respect and that of many others with his relentless pursuit of news but also with the kindness he extended to everyone he met. He will be greatly missed by many of us in the league who were fortunate to know him well beyond the stories he broke each Sunday.”
“We send our condolences to his family, his colleagues and the many people Chris touched throughout his well-lived life.”
Statement from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning also shared his regrets in an Instagram post:
Heartbroken. We lost a true legend. Mort was the best in the business and I cherished our friendship. 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.
Peyton Manning Instagram Post
Former NFL quarterback and current Fox Sports analyst Michael Vick also shared his thoughts on X.
Colleagues Share The Most Poignant Tributes
While players loved and respected Mortensen, other reporters, announcers, and hosts knew him best, so their tributes were the most touching. Keyshawn Johnson, another player turned NFL commentator, could barely contain his grief.
While everyone shared their respect for his reporting, the characteristic most of them recalled the most fondly was Mortensen’s kindness.
There were many more homages offered to Mortensen from colleagues on X, Instagram, and other platforms. This is just a small sample of the outpouring of emotion, not just for the reporter, but for the man.
Shefter Caps Off The Remembrances With Loving Video
Of all the tributes, however, perhaps the most touching came from Adam Schefter. Schefter — a fellow NFL reporter for NFL Network, ESPN, and other outlets — thought of Mortensen as his mentor and friend, as he also grew to become one of the most respected NFL journalists in the business.
This morning, Schefter and ESPN released this video to honor Mortensen:
We at Bounding Into Sports share everyone’s respect and regrets for the loss of such a great reporter and an even better man.
We offer our condolences to his wife Micki, his son Alex, and all of Mort’s family, friends, and colleagues.
