Long-time NFL broadcaster Chris Mortensen died on Sunday morning at the age of 72, leaving many in the NFL community in mourning.
Mortensen was extremely well-liked in the industry, and countless individuals were sad to learn of his death. Among them was Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
Jones released a statement on Mortensen’s death on Sunday evening.
“Chris will forever be part of the NFL family,” he wrote in a statement posted on Twitter. “Loved by so many, he was a brilliant voice for the game and as passionate and talented as there has ever been. My appreciation and respect came quickly for Chris as I visited with him often in Austin during my early years. We bonded greatly there.
“He will be deeply missed and we’re grateful for the special memories and legacy Chris leaves with us. We send our thoughts and prayers to his family and those closest to him.”
Chris Mortensen had battled health issues in the last decade, including Stage 4 throat cancer. He was diagnosed with that in 2016 and had to step away from his duties covering the NFL for a while.
But Mortensen eventually returned to the airwaves. It was only recently he signed off the air for good, wanting to spend more time focusing on his health and his family.
He announced his retirement from ESPN in September.
Unfortunately, Chris Mortensen’s health appeared to take a turn for the worst before his death on Sunday.
“It’s a sad day for everyone in the NFL,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a statement. “I admired how hard Chris worked to become one of the most influential and revered reporters in sports. He earned our respect and that of many others with his relentless pursuit of news but also with the kindness he extended to everyone he met.
“He will be greatly missed by many of us in the league who were fortunate to know him well beyond the stories he broke each Sunday. We send our condolences to his family, his colleagues and the many people Chris touched throughout his well-lived life.”
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