Chris Mortensen Announces Retirement From ESPN

Chris Mortensen has been a longtime staple of ESPN’s NFL coverage, but the veteran reporter’s time at the network has come to an end. On Tuesday, Mortensen announced that he quietly stepped away from the network after the NFL draft in April.

“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 said. “It’s not a classic retirement. I’ll still be here talking ball. It’s just time.”

Mortensen, who will turn 72 in November, first joined the network in 1991 and has since been one of ESPN’s primary NFL insiders. In 2016, Mortensen took a leave of absence while battling throat cancer. Following successful treatment, he returned to the network.

After Mortensen publicized his decision, many sports media figures congratulated him on his lengthy career.

Prior to Mortensen’s ESPN tenure, he served as a writer for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.