'Beautiful' Tribute to Chris Mortensen Goes Viral

A heartwarming tribute to veteran ESPN NFL reporter Chris Mortensen has gone viral.

The Context

The award-winning journalist died on Sunday aged 72, just months after retiring from ESPN.

What We Know

Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991 and for the next 33 years was one of the industry's leading voices, appearing on such shows as Sunday NFL Countdown and SportsCenter. As one of the leading NFL news breakers, Mortensen began his media career in 1969 at the South Bay (California) Daily Breeze, and throughout his life received 18 awards for his work and two Pulitzer Prize nominations.

He announced his retirement in September 2023 to focus on his "health, family and faith."

Views

NFL hosts Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah paid tribute to Mortensen, with the latter fighting back tears as he remembered his mentor.

The pair were on air hosting the Scouting Combine when news of Mortensen's passing came through and they had to announce it on air. The Scouting Combine is an annual tradition that sees college football players under physical and mental tests as NFL coaches, general managers and scouts watch on.

"We do end with some absolutely devastating news," Eisen began and recalled how he had met Mortensen when he was 26 years old.

"He [Mortensen[ was the GOAT in the making for the worldwide leader in sports ESPN and one of the best football reporters we've ever known. He was so nice to me and was so welcoming to me when I first got there."

Eisen then turned to Jeremiah and said: "I know you loved this man."

"Yeah, he's my mentor, he's one of my best friends. I've said it many times I don't want to talk about me, he's done everything for me... I just want to look at the camera and tell Micki his wife his son Alex, That every time I talked to Mort, you guys came up, because he was so proud of you, he loves you so much, you're always in his heart, you're always on his mind," Jeremiah began and choked back tears.

"He's a sweet, sweet person with a sweet family and that's who I'm thinking about right now."

Jeremiah added: "He loved this sport and... he texted me yesterday."

The pundit admitted "the last thing I wanted to do" was come back out on air after learning of Mortensen's passing but he would've "punched me in the face if we didn't do this."

Eisen concluded by saying, "we send our condolences to the Mortensen family and to the ESPN family who put Mort on the air and put him in all of our lives. Rest in peace Chris Mortensen."

What's Next?

People appreciated the impromptu tribute to Mortensen and expressed it on X, formerly Twitter.

"This was a beautiful tribute. I know Mort would have appreciated it greatly," wrote ESPN reporter Ed Werder in a post that's been viewed almost 151,000 times.

ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro released a statement after the journalist's death.

"Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hard-working teammate," he said. "He covered the NFL with extraordinary skill and passion, and was at the top of his field for decades. He will truly be missed by colleagues and fans, and our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones."

The cause of Mortensen's death has not yet been revealed, nor have any details of a memorial service.