An award-winning NFL reporter and ESPN journalist, Chris Mortensen, died on Sunday morning, March 3, at 72. Mortensen’s family confirmed via ESPN his death, but the exact reason for his death has not yet been disclosed.
Mortensen was diagnosed with the fourth stage of throat cancer in January 2016 and stepped down from his role as a journalist at ESPN last year to focus on health, family, and faith.
All About Chris Mortensen Career
Chris Mortensen was a native of Torrance, California. He was born on November 7, 1951. Before starting his journey in journalism career, he served two years in the Army.
Morten worked with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 1983 to 1989, covering the Atlanta Falcons from 1985 to 1986 and the league from 19 to 5-89. Later, he started working for The National for almost two years. He also worked for The Sporting News as an NFL columnist and a contributing writer for Sport magazine. He consulted for CBS’ “The NFL Today” in 1990.
Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991 and evolved into one of the best reporters. He won the George Polk Award for his reporting in 1987. He also received the Dick McCann Award from the Professional Football Writers of America in 2016. It was renamed to the Bill Nunn Jr. Award in 2021. Mortensen got a total of 18 awards throughout his journalism career.
Chairman Of ESPN On Mortensen death
Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN, said in a statement, “Mort is widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a hard-working and supportive teammate.” He also tweeted, “Mortensen covered the NFL with extraordinary skill and passion and was at the top of his field for decades. His fans and colleagues will truly miss him, and our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones.”
