ESPN's Adam Schefter narrates emotional tribute to his friend and colleague Chris Mortensen the day after his death at 72

ESPN's lead NFL insider Adam Schefter paid emotional tribute to his colleague and longtime friend Chris Mortensen, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 72.

Mortensen had been with ESPN from 1991 to 2023, when he left the network after that year's NFL Draft. Schefter joined 'The Worldwide Leader in Sports' in 2009 and was co-workers with 'Mort' for 14 years.

'It's easier to ask someone about dying once he has broken free of its grasp,' Schefter's tribute began. 

'As my friend, my mentor and my on air partner, Chris Mortensen once did. After Mort was diagnosed with stage four throat cancer in 2015 - before fending it off in 2017 - he was asked what he would think and what would go through his mind if he knew he were dying, as he almost did. 

'Mort said he would think of all his incredible life experiences, how blessed he has been, even with the heartbreaks along the way. He also added he would be sad to say goodbye to the people he loved, but he would be going to a place of glory. 

Adam Schefter (L) narrated ESPN's tribute to late longtime NFL reporter Chris Mortensen (R)

Mortensen and Schefter had been co-workers at The Worldwide Leader for 14 years

'Chris Mortensen was born in Torrance, California, outside of Los Angeles in 1951. He served two years in the army during the Vietnam War, married his wife, Mickey, and raised his son, Alex, and established himself as one of the greatest reporters of all time while being an even better man. 

'Mort began his reporting career at his hometown newspaper, the Daily Breeze, before moving on to cover the Braves, Falcons and the NFL at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In 1990, he was among the first reporters hired for the all sports newspaper, the National. 

'Mort arrived at ESPN in 1991. He left behind the newspaper business to work on the NFL studio shows, SportsCenter, the NFL Draft and ESPN Radio. He was the reporter who could get to the bottom of the most difficult stories, yet still be the biggest prankster at the network, capable of making any and everyone laugh.'

Schefter continued: 'After Mort checked into the hospital in 2016, Peyton Manning delivered the scoop of his retirement for Mort to report while he battled cancer. The Manning's had known and trusted Mort for so long that there was no other consideration for giving that story to anyone other than Mort. 

'And yet, while he made his living reporting on some of the toughest guys in sports, nobody was any tougher than Mort himself. Mort battled back from a veritable death sentence. He endured intensive radiation treatments. He lost his hair, weight, but never his sense of humor, spirit, nor fight. 

'He often showed up on TV when he was too tired and worn down to do it. It went on for years, like his own fight, to regain his health. 

'And yet, through the years, Mort remained ESPN's reporting conscience, its most senior and trusted voice. He had seen so much, knew so many, and established himself not only as one of the greatest football reporters in history, but one of the greatest sports reporters in history. 

'It is just one reason why so many turned to him for guidance on stories that mattered. Because he did. Mort was a pioneer in this business, one of the first reporters to transition from newspapers to tv, making it possible for so many others to follow a similar path. 

Among the many stories Mortensen broke in his career included Peyton Manning's retirement

Mortensen left ESPN after the 2023 NFL Draft following 22 years with the company

'Fred Gidelli, the legendary producer of NFL games, once said that if there were a Mount Rushmore for ESPN, Mort unquestionably would be on it. Mort was nominated for two Pulitzer Prizes, wrote two highly acclaimed books, won 18 journalism awards, was selected to the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame as the Dick McCann Award winner in 2016, and became the only sports writer other than the great Red Smith to win the George Polk Award for Reporting. 

'But Mort really didn't need any awards to validate his greatness. Other aspects of a life well lived already accomplished that. .

'And here's the truth about a man we loved as much as we respected. If someone's life makes you sad when it ends, it's because it was wonderful when it happened. Mort's truly was. 

'He lived a life that touched so many others, full of faith and purpose, all leading to his ultimate and final accomplishment. Chris Mortensen is headed to his place of glory.'