Chris Mortensen, the longtime NFL insider for ESPN, died Sunday morning, the network announced.
He was 72.
“Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hard-working teammate,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a press release. “He covered the NFL with extraordinary skill and fervour, and was at the highest of his field for many years. He’ll truly be missed by colleagues and fans, and our hearts and thoughts are along with his loved one.”
Mortensen took a leave of absence from ESPN in 2016 after being diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer, which later spread to his lungs.
He left ESPN in 2023 after joining the network in 1991.
“A fully devastating day,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on X. “Mort was certainly one of the best reporters in sports history, and a good higher man. Sincerest condolences to his family, and all who knew and loved him. So many did. Mort was the perfect. He will probably be endlessly missed and remembered.”
