Chris Mortensen is headed off into the sunset.
Chris Mortensen has been a longtime staple of ESPN’s NFL coverage, but the veteran reporter’s time at the network has come to an end.
On Tuesday, he took to social media and announced that he quietly stepped away from the network after the NFL draft in April.
He indicated that he would still be talking football in his retirement.
“It’s time to reveal after my 33rd NFL draft in April, I made a decision to step away from ESPN and focus on my health, family and faith,” Mortensen said. “It’s not a classic retirement. I’ll still be here talking ball. It’s just time.”
Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991 after writing for The National, Sport magazine, The Sporting News, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
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Back in 2016, he stepped away from ESPN as he battled Stage IV throat cancer, and got great news later in the year that treatment had led to “virtually zero” detection of cancer. Despite battling cancer, he still broke the news that Peyton Manning was retiring after 18 years in the NFL.
Mortensen has always had a reputation for treating people with kindness and empathy.
Mortensen will turn 72 in November.
It’s hard to think of football season happening without Mort on ESPN, but he deserves to take a break and live the rest of his life with ease and comfort.
