Chris Mortensen, renowned journalist at NFL for ESPN for over three decades, passed away on Sunday at age 72, as confirmed by his family. Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991, contributing regularly to the network’s NFL shows and “SportsCenter.”

Mortensen’s cause of death was not disclosed, but it is believed to be related to his battle with illness. He had been battling Stage 4 throat cancer since 2016 and had to take a break from covering the NFL for some time. Despite returning to work, Mortensen recently retired from ESPN in September to focus on his health and family. However, his health took a turn for the worse before his passing on Sunday.

Read More: “You’ll Be Missed, Buddy! R.I.P.”: Stephen A. Smith Joins NFL Community to Pay Homage to Chris Mortensen

Before ESPN, he wrote for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 1983 to 1990, covering the Braves, Falcons, and the NFL. He won the George Polk Award in 1987 and got 2 Pulitzer Prize nominations and 18 other journalism awards throughout his career. Since then, social media has been flooded with shockwaves and messages of mourning.

NFL stars join Robert Griffin III in mourning for the legend

Alongside Robert Griffin III, various sports figures such as Peyton Manning, Jerry Jones, Sage Steele, and others expressed their reactions to Mort’s passing. NFL Network also paid tribute to Mortensen during its 2024 NFL Scouting Combine coverage.  These many stars came together online as Mortensen’s legacy transcends beyond journalism. 

RG III expressed his condolences on social media, “Rest in Peace to one of the pioneers of the sports reporting industry. Mort was more than a reporter, but a friend to many and a great teammate. Prayers up for the entire Mortensen Family.”

Many of his old colleagues, friends, and people in the sports world went online to show their respects after the news came out on Sunday. Even sports commentator Ian Rapoport recently joined many others in expressing sadness on the internet.

His passing is indeed a significant loss for sports journalism. What were some of your favorite moments with Mortensen during NFL coverage? Let us know in the comments.