Chris Mortensen, Veteran ESPN NFL Reporter, Dies at 72
variety.comCaroline Brew editor Chris Mortensen, an award-winning journalist who reported on the NFL for ESPN for decades, died Sunday.
He was 72. Mortensen’s family confirmed the news to ESPN. While a cause of death was not revealed, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer in January 2016. “Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hard-working teammate,” Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN, said in a statement posted on X/Twitter. “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.” After joining the network in 1991, Mortensen reported on the NFL for ESPN for over 30 years.
He was a regular contributor to ESPN’s NFL shows and “SportsCenter.” Mortensen regularly broke news for ESPN, such as Peyton Manning retiring from the NFL in 2016.
Read more on variety.com