By MITCH LUCAS
Here at thefootballbeat.com, we not only recognize the great careers of athletes from the game of college football and the National Football League, but those who helped to make those games great.
And a man who did his part to keep us informed for the better part of the last 35 years has announced he’s placing the microphone on the hook for the final time.
Chris Mortensen, the longtime ESPN NFL insider who broke so many stories and helped provide fans so much information over his decades-long career, announced his retirement on Tuesday on the former Twitter, now X.
“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 wrote. “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.”
Mort, as he became affectionately known by fellow ESPN on-air personality Chris Berman and then to the rest of America, served in the Army during Vietnam, and began his journalism career in the late 1960’s in California. He spent the better part of the 1980s with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (that’s a newspaper, young people) and then began appearing on ESPN in 1991, on programs like Sunday NFL Countdown and the network’s coverage of the NFL Draft.
Longtime fans would likely admit that Mort’s most popular features on ESPN were the “Inside the Huddle” segments that were must-viewing for serious NFL fans for so many years. He fought a battle with espophaeal cancer, and passed the baton of top active insider on to Adam Schefter, and his ever-present cell phone.
“There’s been no greater honor than to work with, and learn from, a man on ESPN’s Mount Rushmore,” Schefter said on X, shortly after Mort’s announcement. “He has been an exemplary husband, father, friend and co-worker. He paved the way in this industry. He is a legend. Thank you for all you did for ESPN and so many, Mort. Love you.”
ESPN’s NBA insider, Adrian Wojnarowski, also paid tribute. “Best of the best. What an honor it’s been to spend time with Mort and learn from him. A true titan in this industry and an inspiration in every aspect of his remarkable life and career.”
Mort will now, perhaps, take time to watch the career of his son in coaching football. Alex Mortensen, who played quarterback in college at Arkansas and has had a quiet but very successful stint as a graduate assistant at Alabama for Nick Saban, among other stops, is now the offensive coordinator for head coach Trent Dilfer at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. UAB, by the way, is 1-0 this season, plays at Georgia Southern this Saturday, and is a member of the American Athletic Conference.
Mort, we’ve never met, but you’re a legend, one of the forefathers of what we do here, which is to keep the world informed, best we can, about this great sport. You really should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, one day. I’ve watched you so much over the years, I feel like I know you. Thank you so much for everything you’ve done. — Mitch Lucas
