Chris Mortensen was an ESPN reporter known for his decades of Super Bowl coverage.
- Died: March 3, 2024 (Who else died on March 3?)
- Details of death: Died after fighting throat cancer at the age of 72.
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Chris Mortensen’s legacy
Mortensen’s coverage of the Super Bowl began long before he was with ESPN – in fact, he covered every Super Bowl from 1979 until 2015, stepping away from the big game only after his cancer diagnosis in 2016. Mortensen joined ESPN in 1991 and remained there for the rest of his career, appearing on programs including “SportsCenter,” “Sunday NFL Countdown,” “Monday Night Countdown,” and “NFL Live.” He was also featured on ESPN Radio and as a columnist on ESPN.com. He was a regular part of the ESPN coverage team for the Super Bowl and NFL Draft.
Born in Torrance, California, Mortensen was a high school athlete who pursued journalism after starting at El Camino College. He served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. His pre-ESPN career took him from the Daily Breeze to Sporting News to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he covered the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Falcons.
Mortensen experienced a career setback when, in January 2015, he reported that “[t]he NFL has found that 11 of the New England Patriots’ 12 game balls were inflated significantly below the NFL’s requirements… during the Pats’ 45-7 victory over the Indianapolis Colts…” It was later revealed that the situation had been significantly overstated: Only one ball was deflated by 2 psi while others were only slightly deflated. However, Mortensen’s reporting contributed to an uproar over the allegations, and some saw him as an instigator who sought to discredit the New England Patriots and their quarterback, Tom Brady. The ensuing controversy became known as “Deflategate.” Mortensen defended his reporting, noting that his sources provided the incorrect information.
Known by the nickname “Mort,” Mortensen won a George Polk Award in 1987, one of only a handful of sportswriters to win the prestigious honor. He was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.
Mortensen on what he learned from his cancer battle
“Share the emotions that you feel for people when you have the opportunity. If you love somebody, tell them. If somebody has done something for you, tell them you appreciate it. Don’t let the moment pass you by. Because you never know when you’ll have another chance.” —from a 2017 interview for Sports Illustrated
Tributes to Chris Mortensen
Full obituary: The Washington Post
