Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Michael Sykes

Chris Mortensen officially announced his retirement from ESPN and everyone showed him so much love

Chris Mortensen Mort ESPN NFL

Chris Mortensen has been a staple on ESPN covering the NFL for literal decades since his start at the network back in 1991.

Now, here we are 32 years later, and the veteran reporter is announcing his retirement from the network. Mortensen tweeted that he’d decided to step away from ESPN after the NFL draft back in April.

We hadn’t really seen Mortensen publicly since then, though he remained active on social media. Only now, though, is he officially announcing his retirement.

He did it in the most simple manner possible — with a post on Twitter briefly revealing where he’s been all of this time and what he was about to do.

“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. The gratitude and humility is overwhelming. It’s not a classic retirement. I’ll still be here talking ball.”

It’s been a long time coming for Mortensen. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer back in 2016 so it’s not a surprise that he’s stepping away to take care of his health.

Mortensen is a legend in so many households filled with NFL fans. His “Inside the Huddle” segments on ESPN were absolute gold. His draft coverage was always fun and had so much joy attached to it. You could always tell how much he enjoyed his work.

Fans will certainly miss seeing him on TV, surely. But he’ll still be tweeting. With that in mind, so many fans, friends and colleagues took a bit of time to show him love after he made his announcement.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Vira-lata caramelo: Brazil has a new icon thanks to Netflix and memes
The caramelo craze started online around 2019 and skyrocketed from there
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
‘Very disheartened’: trans actor speaks out as Disney changes her Pixar character to be cisgender
Studio says ‘many parents would prefer to discuss certain subjects with their children on their own terms and timeline’
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Transgender actor reacts to Disney cutting storyline from Pixar’s Win or Lose
Chanel Stewart says she was ‘disheartened’ by the decision
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Ohio Court Makes It Official: 'Boneless' Chicken Wings Can Legally Contain Bones
The Ohio Supreme Court has doubled down on its infamous ruling in which they determined that chicken wings labeled "boneless" may have bones in it, refusing to reconsider the case.
International Business Times
International Business Times
Think twice before using a DNA test –they're a privacy nightmare
DNA kits offer fascinating insights into your genetic background, but they might be a privacy nightmare.
Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Children of parents not in a romantic relationship are just as happy as those in nuclear families – new research
It’s become completely normal to find a romantic partner through a bit of swiping on your phone. But could the same be about to happen for parenting? “Elective co-parenting” involves two or more people choosing to have and raise a child together outside of a romantic relationship.
The Conversation
The Conversation
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play