Peyton Manning expressed his deep sorrow on Instagram, sharing photos with Mortensen. "Heartbroken," he wrote. "We lost a true legend. Mort was the best in the business. I trusted him with major announcements. I will miss him dearly."
Adam Schefter, ESPN's NFL insider, shared his grief on X. "An absolutely devastating day," he said. "Mort was a top reporter and an even better man. He will be forever missed."
Jim Irsay, the owner of the Indianapolis Colts, mourned Mortensen's loss on social media. "So sad to hear of Chris Mortensen’s passing. A dear friend and a legend. My heart goes out to his family."
During the NFL Scouting Combine broadcast, Rich Eisen and Daniel Jeremiah, mentored by Mortensen, reacted to the news. Jeremiah, emotional, shared a recent exchange with Mortensen about a player's workout. "He loved this game," Jeremiah said.
Jeremiah also conveyed his condolences to Mortensen's family, highlighting Mortensen's love and pride for them. "He was a sweet, sweet person with a sweet family," he added.
Eisen reminisced about meeting Mortensen at ESPN. "He was so nice to me, so welcoming," Eisen said. "One of the best football reporters we’ve ever known."
The NFL community on X continued to offer condolences for Mortensen, affectionately known as "Mort." His legacy and kindness touched many, leaving a profound impact on the sports world.
Longtime sportscaster Chris Mortensen gave his thoughts on the passing of Mortensen.
More reactions, per Fox News:
JEFF PASSAN: "Chris Mortensen was a shining example for everyone who does this job. Kind to all. Thoughtful and principled. He knew he had the best job in the world and never took it for granted. I cherished every conversation with him and feel lucky to have called him a friend. RIP, Mort."
SCOTT VAN PELT: "Every single tribute to Mort is the same. The sincerity, decency, kindness, professionalism and humanity of the man is referenced by every team, player and colleague. Believe them all. Christ Mortensen was a wonderful soul."
SUZY KOLBER: "RIP my dear dear friend. Longtime tv partner and confidant. One of the very few people on earth I could trust with anything. All my love to Micki and Alex."
ROBERT GRIFFIN III: "Rest in Peace to one of the pioneers of the sports reporting industry. Mort was more than a reporter, but a friend to many and a great teammate. Prayers up for the entire Mortensen family."
Chris Mortensen is shown during the Monday Night Football game between the Green Bay Packers and Seahawks in Seattle on Nov. 27, 2006. (Kirby Lee/NFLPhotoLibrary)
JEFF DARLINGTON: "Chris Mortensen is the person I strives to be like when I was young. And after the friendship we developed, he remained the type of person I want to be as I grow older. I am forever indebted to him for all the ways he inspired me – both before and after I got to call him a treasured friend. While I'm not ready to accept a world without Mort, I am so thankful for the time he was here. A devastating day for our industry and all those who were lucky enough to know him."
SHAUN O'HARA: "Heartbreaking news about Chris Mortensen. He was liked & trust by EVERYONE. Always a joy to be around. Prayers to his family & friends. We will all miss you Mort."
GREG JENNINGS: "One time for Christ Mortensen! #RIP"
MIKE GREENBERG: "Chris Mortensen was one of the kindest, most generous gentlemen you could ever come across, in any field. His professionalism and decency earned him universal admiration – his enthusiasm and good nature made him everyone’s friend. His mark on the business will last a long time, his impact on those of us lucky enough to know him well will last the rest of our lives. Rest in peace, Mort. We will treasure your memory forever."
