{"id":3839,"date":"2024-03-04T15:06:15","date_gmt":"2024-03-04T15:06:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/foreverinourhearts\/?p=3839"},"modified":"2024-03-04T15:06:15","modified_gmt":"2024-03-04T15:06:15","slug":"remembering-the-life-of-award-winning-espn-nfl-reporter-chris-mortensen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/foreverinourhearts\/2024\/03\/remembering-the-life-of-award-winning-espn-nfl-reporter-chris-mortensen.html","title":{"rendered":"Remembering the Life of Award-Winning ESPN NFL Reporter Chris Mortensen"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"chris<\/a>
Adam Schefter \/ X.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Chris Mortensen, a longtime NFL insider for ESPN and an award-winning journalist, has died, the network announced. He was 72. Mortensen was a fixture on ESPN for 30 years, appearing on \u201cSunday NFL Countdown,\u201d as an NFL Draft analyst and as a contributor on \u201cSportsCenter.\u201d In a statement, ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said, \u201cMort 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pitaro concluded with, \u201cHe will truly be missed by colleagues and fans, and our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones.\u201d Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991 and quickly gained a reputation for being one of the most trusted football insiders. He previously worked for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he covered the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Falcons from 1983 to 1990. During his tenure at the newspaper, he won the 1987 George Polk Award for a 110-page piece called \u201cIgnoring the Rules\u201d about amateur sports and college athletes.<\/p>\n

In January 2016, he announced that he was diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer. Mortensen later returned to ESPN after announcing his cancer treatments were successful. In August that same year, he received the Pro Football Writers of America\u2019s Dick McCann Award and was honored during the Pro Football Hall of Fame\u2019s enshrinement ceremony. In September 2023, Mortensen said he would step away from his role at ESPN \u201cto focus on my health, family and faith.\u201d<\/p>\n

ESPN\u2019s Adam Schefter, a longtime colleague of Mortensen\u2019s on ESPN\u2019s \u201cSunday NFL Countdown,\u201d\u00a0said on social media<\/a>: \u201cAn absolutely devastating day. Mort was one of the greatest reporters in sports history and an even better man. Sincerest condolences to his family and all who knew and loved him. So many did. Mort was the very best. He will be forever missed and remembered.\u201d Norby Williamson, executive editor and head of studio production for ESPN, said in a statement, \u201cMort helped set the journalism standard in the early days of ESPN. His credibility, attention to detail and reporting skills catapulted our news and information to a new level. More importantly, he was a great teammate and human being. He personified care and respect for people, which became the culture of ESPN.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A post shared by Peyton Manning (@peytonmanning)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n