The sports journalism landscape witnessed a significant loss on February 13, 2022, when esteemed ESPN NFL insider Chris Mortensen passed away at age 72.
Mortensen’s departure prompted an outpouring of tributes from the sporting community and his ESPN colleagues.
Mortensen’s heartfelt remembrances came from all corners of the sports world, displaying the extent of his influence at ESPN.
Scott Van Pelt, SportsCenter anchor, stood out with a touching tribute, recognizing Mortensen’s sincerity, decency, professionalism, and humanity in a public comment.
Every single tribute to Mort is the same. The sincerity, decency, kindness, professionalism and humanity of the man is referenced by every team, player and colleague.
Believe them all.
Chris Mortensen was a wonderful soul.
— Scott Van Pelt (@notthefakeSVP) March 3, 2024
Former SportsCenter anchor Kenny Mayne also remembered Mortensen, noting the long list of individuals touched by his continuous kindness and genuine interest in their lives.
ESPN is very sorry to have to share this devastating news.
Award-winning journalist Chris Mortensen passed away this morning at the age of 72. pic.twitter.com/m0Sh742PuO
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) March 3, 2024
These sentiments were echoed by many others at ESPN and across the sports world.
Andrea Kremer, a highly respected figure in NFL Films, NBC’s Sunday Night Football, HBO’s Real Sports, and ESPN, expressed her total admiration for Mortensen.
Just saw the news about Mort and an incredible, profound sadness overcame me. He was a decades long friend and someone for whom I had total admiration as a professional and love and respect as a wonderful person. My deepest condolences to Micki and Alex and so many he impacted. pic.twitter.com/2J4C2itG5N
— Andrea Kremer (@Andrea_Kremer) March 3, 2024
Kremer mentioned that Mortensen “was a decades-long friend and someone for whom I had total admiration as a professional and love and respect as a wonderful person.”
For some, Mortensen was more than a colleague; he was a mentor. Ed Werder, ESPN NFL reporter, reminisced about how Mortensen guided him during his career.
You could not have been a better friend, role model, or mentor. I love and miss you already, @mortreport. My sympathies to his wife Micki and son Alex. pic.twitter.com/U6ssOuAnAG
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) March 3, 2024
Similarly, Steve Levy, NHL host, and SportsCenter anchor paid his respects to Mortensen’s legacy.
The Mort tributes are all nearly identical. That’s how you know they’re true. He led the league in being a great human, every season.
This is so upsetting on every level. #Mort
— Steve Levy (@espnSteveLevy) March 3, 2024
Tributes continued from Suzy Kolber, a former host on Monday Night Countdown, Keith Olbermann, and Adam Schefter, whom all shared their personal anecdotes about Mortensen.
Kolber noted, “RIP my dear dear friend. Longtime TV partner and confidant. One of the very few people on earth I could trust with anything.”
RIP my dear dear friend. Longtime tv partner and confidant. One of the very few people on earth I could trust with anything. All my love to Micki and Alex 💔 pic.twitter.com/OzccB5rgHX
— Suzy Kolber (@SuzyKolber) March 3, 2024
These tributes paint a picture of Mortensen as a steadfast friend and mentor whose impact will be keenly felt.
The video tribute done for Mort when he won the Dick McCann Award to go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/Sg1HbjvwpI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2024
James Andrew Miller, a well-known sports author, acknowledged Mortensen’s pioneering role in bringing ESPN and NFL into the modern era.
He remarked on how Mortensen achieved this transformation with pure support for his colleagues and without any envy, making the sports world a better place.
It’s hard to fathom how many of the old ESPN guard I used to lay on the couch and watch hours of Sportscenter reruns of is no longer with us: Chris Mortensen, Stuart Scott, John Saunders, Pedro Gomez, John Clayton, Dick Schaap. RIP to them all
— Ryan (@tvisgreat) March 3, 2024
“Chris was a pioneer — helping usher both ESPN and the NFL into the modern era. And somehow, he did it without jealousy of others, and with tons of support for colleagues and friends. The sports world was a much better place with him in it.”
