The sports world paid tribute to award-winning NFL insider Chris Mortensen on Sunday after it was announced that he died at the age of 72.
Mortensen worked for ESPN for over three decades, helping grow the sports media giant and breaking news, such as quarterback Peyton Manning retiring from the NFL in 2016.
It was that same year that he won the Pro Football Writers of America’s Dick McCann Award and was honored during the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s enshrinement ceremony.
His peers showed their love for their late friend on Sunday, with a common theme being how “kind” and “wonderful” Mortensen was.
“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,” Scott Van Pelt wrote on social media. “Believe them all. Chris Mortensen was a wonderful soul.”
Cari Champion added how Mortensen was “truly a lovely human and so kind! … Thank you for what you’ve given to the business and the sport.”
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“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,” Robert Griffin III said. “Prayers up for the entire Mortensen Family.”
Mortensen was diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer in January 2016; he stepped away from ESPN last year “to focus on my health, family and faith,” per the media brand.
