Chris Mortensen, the award-winning ESPN journalist, dies at the age of 72 – just six months after retiring following 32 years with the sports network

Chris Mortensen, the award-winning ESPN journalist, died Sunday morning at the age of 72.

The NFL insider, who joined ESPN in 1991, recently retired after 32 years ahead of the 2023 NFL season in September.

The channel announced his death in a statement on Sunday afternoon. A cause of death was not given.

“Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and widely loved as a supportive, hard-working teammate,” ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said.

He played the NFL with extraordinary skill and passion, and was at the top of his field for decades. He will be truly missed by colleagues and fans, and our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones.”

Mortensen was considered one of the top NFL journalists in the country after quickly rising through the ranks at ESPN and becoming a regular on the network’s top shows.

Before working at ESPN, Mortensen wrote for The National Sports Daily, The Sporting News and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

He was put on temporary leave by ESPN in 2016 while battling stage IV throat cancer, but eventually returned to the fold and received great news later that year when he said his treatment led to “virtually zero” cancer detection. .

And while battling cancer, Mortensen was the first to report Peyton Manning’s retirement from the NFL at age 18

Mortensen announced he would be stepping down from his reporting duties on September 5, but had hinted he would keep a close eye on all action from the gridiron.

“I’m excited about another season, but it’s time to reveal that following my 33rd NFL draft in April, I made the decision to step away from ESPN and focus on my health, family and faith,” tweeted Mortensen at the time.

‘The gratitude and humility are overwhelming. It is not a classic pension. I will still talk here. It’s just time,” Mortensen added. “God bless you all.”

More to follow.