ESPN’s Adam Schefter narrates emotional tribute to his friend and colleague Chris Mortensen the day after his death at 72

ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter paid an emotional tribute to his colleague and longtime friend Chris Mortensen, who died Sunday at the age of 72.

Mortensen worked at ESPN from 1991 to 2023, when he left the network after that year’s NFL Draft. Schefter joined ‘The Worldwide Leader in Sports’ in 2009 and was an employee of ‘Mort’ for 14 years.

“It’s easier to ask someone about death once it has freed itself from its grasp,” Schefter’s tribute began.

“Just like my friend, my mentor and my partner in the sky, Chris Mortensen once did. After Mort was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in 2015 – before fighting it off in 2017 – he was asked what he would think and what would be going through his mind if he knew he was dying, which he almost did.

“Mort said he would think about all his incredible life experiences, how blessed he has been, even with the heartbreak along the way. He also added that he would be sad to say goodbye to the people he loved, but that he would go to a place of glory.

Mortensen and Schefter had been employees of The Worldwide Leader for fourteen years

‘Chris Mortensen was born in Torrance, California, outside Los Angeles in 1951. He served in the Army for two years during the Vietnam War, married his wife Mickey, raised his son Alex and established himself as one of the greatest reporters of all times, while being an even better man.

“Mort began his career as a reporter at his hometown newspaper, the Daily Breeze, before covering the Braves, Falcons and the NFL at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In 1990, he was one of the first reporters hired for the National sports newspaper.

“Mort arrived at ESPN in 1991. He left the newspaper business to work on the NFL studio shows, SportsCenter, the NFL Draft and ESPN Radio. He was the reporter who could get to the toughest stories and still be the channel’s biggest joker, who could make everyone laugh.”

Schefter continued, “After Mort was hospitalized in 2016, Peyton Manning handed the scoop on his retirement to Mort to report while he battled cancer. The Manning’s had known and trusted Mort for so long that there was no other consideration for telling that story to anyone other than Mort.

‘And yet, even though he made his living reporting some of the toughest guys in the sport, no one was tougher than Mort himself. Mort fought back from a veritable death sentence. He underwent intensive radiation treatments. He lost his hair and weight, but never his sense of humor, spirit and fight.

‘He often appeared on TV when he was too tired and exhausted to do so. It took years, like his own battle, to regain his health.

“And yet through the years, Mort remained ESPN’s reporting conscience, its most important and trusted voice. He had seen so much, known so much and established himself not only as one of the greatest football reporters in history, but also as one of the greatest sports reporters in history.

“It’s just one reason why so many turned to him for advice on stories that mattered. Because he did. Mort was a pioneer in the industry, one of the first reporters to make the transition from newspapers to television, making it possible for so many others to follow a similar path.

One of the many stories Mortensen told throughout his career included Peyton Manning’s retirement

Mortensen left ESPN following the 2023 NFL Draft after 22 years with the company

Fred Gidelli, the legendary producer of NFL games, once said that if there were a Mount Rushmore for ESPN, Mort would undoubtedly be on it. Mort was nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, wrote two critically acclaimed books, won 18 journalism awards, was selected to the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame in 2016 as a winner of the Dick McCann Award and became the only sportswriter besides the great Red Smith to win the George Polk Award for Reporting.

“But Mort really didn’t need any accolades to confirm his greatness. Other aspects of a life well lived have already achieved that. .

“And here’s the truth about a man we loved as much as we respected. If someone’s life makes you sad when it ends, it’s because it was wonderful when it happened. That really was Mort.

“He lived a life that touched so many others, full of faith and purpose, all leading to his ultimate achievement. Chris Mortensen is on his way to glory.”