Chris Mortenson, an award-winning journalist, who reported on the NFL for ESPN for more than three decades, passed away on Sunday morning at the age of 72, his family announced. Mortenson joined ESPN in 1991 and was a regular contributor to the NFL show of the network and Sportscenter.
He was a regular news breaker for ESPN, including the 2016 news that Quarterback Peton Manning was retiring from NFL. In 2016, he received the Pro Football Writers of America’s Dick McCan award and was honoured during the establishment ceremony of Pro Football Hall of Fame in August that year.
ESPN’s president Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement, “Mort was widely respected as an industry leading and was universally dear as an assistant, hard-working partner. He covered the NFL with extraordinary skills and passions, and remained on top in his area for decades.
They will be really missed by colleagues and fans, and our hearts and ideas are with their loved ones. ” ESPN’s Adam Shefter, who has been Mortenson’s long-long affiliates at ESPN’s Sande NFL Countdown, said on social media: an absolutely destructive day. Mort games were one of the greatest journalists in history, and also a better person.
Hardy sensations to their family, and all they knew and loved him. Many did. Mort was the best. He’ll always be remembered and be remembered. ” Mortenson, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer in January 2016, resigned from his role in ESPN to focus on his health, family and confidence last year. Norby Williamson, executive editor of ESPN and head of studio production, said in a, Mort helped set up journalism standard in the early days of ESPN.
His reliability, attention and reporting skills on expansion brought our news and information to a new level. statement. More importantly, he was a great teammate and human being. He expressed care and respect towards people which became ESPN’s culture. ” NFL Commissioner Roger Gudel said Mortenson’s death was a sad day for everyone in NFL. “Gudel said in a statement, “”I appreciate how hard Chris worked to become one of the most influential and respected journalists in the game.” He not only earned us and many others respecting us from the continuous search of news, but also earned respect by his kindness towards every person he received.
Many of us in the league will miss them a lot, which were lucky to know them well beyond the stories. He took a vacation every Sunday. We express our condolence to his family, his colleagues and those who Chris touched during his good life. ” Manning wrote in a post on Instagram that his heart was broken by news of Mortenson’s death. Manning said in his post, “We lost a true legend.
Mort was the best in business and I gave importance to our friendship. I announced the announcement of signing with Broncos and trusted on it the news of my retirement. I will miss her a lot and my thoughts and prayers are with Mickey and her family. Relax peacefully, mort. ” Before coming to ESPN, Mortenson wrote for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (1983–1990) covering Falcons, The Braves and NFL and won the George Polk award in 1987 for his reporting.
That game was one of the first authors appointed by editor Frank Deford at the National, who worked there from 1989 to 1990 before coming to ESPN. Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in a statement, “I join the immeasurable number of hearts across the nation, in journalism and the sports community, as we mourn Chris Mortensen”
” I’m thankful I got the privilege to know Chris through his incredible work started during his tenure at the Atlanta Journal Constitution and, like many people, during the many years after that, his professional excellence and personal grace were blessed. I thought Chris is my private hero and it’s really hard to imagine sports journalism without him.
His ability to take life barriers with patience and determination was always really inspiring and their tremendous impact on many, including I’m going to be alive through this work and unbreakable friendship. I express my deep condolence to Chris’s family and friends, and pray that he got peace in the respectable heritage and positive impact left by Chris. ” Mortenson was also a columnist for the Sporting News, contributor to Sport Magazine and consultant to CBS Sports’ NFL Today (1990). Mortenson, who started her journalism career from South Bay (California) Daily Breeze in 1969, won the National Headliner Award for searched reporting in all categories in 1978. He received 18 awards in journalism and was nominated for two Pulitzer awards in his career.
Mortenson, native to Torrance, California, was born on November 7, 1951. Prior to a two-year service in the army, he studied at El Camino College. He is survived by his wife Mickey and only son Alex.
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