Earlier today, reports emerged announcing the death of longtime NFL reporter and ESPN Journalist Chris Mortensen. While the details around the cause of death are unknown, the 72-year-old veteran journalist had been battling throat cancer since 2016. Beginning his career at the South Bay Daily Breeze in 1969, Mortensen went on to be one of the most revered NFL journalists in America being part of top ESPN shows and breaking major news throughout his career.
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His storied career secured him the prestigious Dick McCann Award in 2016 along with two Pulitzer prize nominations. The Dick McCann Award, today known as the Bill Nunn Memorial Award is bestowed by the PFWA to reporters with a storied contribution to pro football. Mortensen won the award in 2016, nearly 6 months after he announced his battle with stage 4 cancer diagnosis.
As part of his victory, the organizers stitched up a tribute video featuring a highlight reel of Mortensen’s iconic and funny moments along with words of praise from his ESPN colleagues like Adam Schefter, Suzy Kolber along with veteran color commentatory figures in Chris Berman and Tom Jackson. In the video presentation, Chris and Tom started off by explaining how Mortensen was a pioneer in sports journalism and stuck to his journalistic roots of fact reporting sans bias in the chaotic world of sports.
Adam Schefter then chimed in crediting Mortensen for shaping the way ESPN is today after joining the organization in 1991. Suzy Kolber ended the presentation expressing her gratitude to Mortensen for setting the gold standard in sports journalism. “No one is more deserving,” ended Suzy. The 2016 much-acclaimed video tribute was posted again today by ESPN’s Adam Schefter taking fans down memory lane. The NFL world hence took to social media to share their gratitude and nostalgia.
For many NFL fans, Chris Mortensen was a constant childhood character on TV sets. His long career and his likable personality are rare in sports journalism these days. His loss hence feels personal to many.
Chris Mortensen Leaves With an Exceptional Legacy And Impact
The best way to celebrate the deceased is by remembering them for the legacy they have left on us. Luckily for us, Chris Mortensen left us with tons of memories and achievements to cherish. Starting his career as an investigative journalist for the Daily Breeze, Mortensen quickly climbed up the ranks winning the National Headliner Award for Investigative Reporting in 1978. Soon after, he worked at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporting everything Atlanta Sports.
This got him into the world of the NFL with his regular coverage for the Atlanta Falcons. His stellar coverage soon earned him the George Polk Award for his reporting skills. His sports journalism acumen soon spread across with him joining The National covering the NFL for a year. A year later in ‘91, Schefter joined ESPN, and the rest as they say is history. Throughout his career, he won 18 awards in journalism with two Pulitzer Prize nominations. ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro in his latest statement also acknowledged the same,
“Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hardworking teammate. 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.”
However, what he will always be remembered for is his rooted fact-based coverage. He set the journalistic standards and integrity in American football coverage and to date, everyone holds him in high regard for that. Mortensen paved the way for many aspiring sports journalists and will forever be held in high regard in this field. Our condolences to the friends and family of the esteemed journalist.
