Chris Mortensen: Cause of death, age, wife, children, net worth—
Chris Mortensen, an award-winning veteran reporter for ESPN, died Sunday morning, the network announced.
Mortensen’s impact on football journalism and broadcasting has been profound, earning him respect and admiration from colleagues, fans, and players alike.
Chris Mortensen Age
Chris Mortensen was born in Torrance, California in November 1951 and on March 3, 2024, at the age of 72.
He is best known for providing reports for ESPN on their TV series Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, SportsCenter, and on ESPN.com and ESPN Radio.
Chris Mortensen Cause of death
On January 15, 2016, Mortensen announced that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer, in a statement shared by ESPN.
He took a brief leave of absence from his on-air work at the network, but ultimately returned to continue providing NFL coverage across multiple programs.
After more than three decades at ESPN, Chris Mortensen retired from the network in September 2023.
“Excited about another season but 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 tweeted on September 5, 2023.
“The gratitude and humility is overwhelming.”
“It’s not a classic retirement. I’ll still be here talking ball. It’s just time. God Bless you all,” he added.
On Sunday, March 3, 2024, just a few months after retiring from the network, Chris Mortensen passed away at the age of 72 following an eight-year battle with throat cancer.
“Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hard-working teammate. 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,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement.
Chris Mortensen Wife
Chris Mortensen was married to Micki Mortensen. They had been married for 39 years.
Chris Mortensen Children
Mortensen had one son named Alex Mortensen. Alex is a football coach and former professional quarterback.
Unlike his father, who covered football news but never played football past high school, Alex Mortensen went on to play both college and professional football before transitioning into a career in coaching.
Chris Mortensen Net Worth
Prior to his death, Mortensen was reported to have a net worth of $6 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
He amassed his wealth through a successful career in sports journalism45678.
Mortensen began his journalism career in 1969 with the Daily Breeze newspaper in Torrance, California.
He then worked for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution from 1983 to 1990, covering the Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Falcons, and the NFL46. He also worked for The National from 1989 to 1990.
In 1991, Mortensen joined ESPN, where he reported for the network’s programs such as NFL GameDay/NFL Countdown/Sunday NFL Countdown, and the Outside the Lines series.
He was also an analyst for ESPN’s coverage of the NFL Draft. Throughout his career, Mortensen received 18 awards for his journalistic efforts.
