Chris Mortensen honored by NFL, Superdome ahead of Super Bowl 59

Chris Mortensen was honored by the NFL inside the Superdome press box ahead of Super Bowl 59. Sunday marks the first Super Bowl since his death in March.

A memorial was set up for the longtime ESPN journalist, displaying a special Super Bowl LIX football encased in glass next to a vase of white roses and other flowers. It had a photo of him working at the ESPN desk next to a short statement from the NFL.

It reads as follows:

On display all day in the press box at the Superdome: pic.twitter.com/IFRiD6qTpY

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 9, 2025

“The NFL presents this Super Bowl LIX game ball in memory of our friend and colleague, Chris Mortensen. An ESPN veteran of 32 years, Chris’ insightful NFL commentary and unwavering dedication to his profession, … respect and admiriation of colleagues and sports enthusiasts alike and will never be forgotten.”

Mortensen began his career in journalism in 1969. He covered news, investigations, and of course, sports, before making his first appearance on the world leader in sports broadcasting, ESPN, in 1991. That year, he released a book titled, Playing for Keeps: How One Man Kept the Mob from Sinking Its Hooks into Pro Football.

In 2016, Mortensen had to take a leave of absence from his work with the network when he received a diagnosis of Stage 4 throat cancer. He announced his retirement from ESPN in September of 2023.

“Mort was widely respected as an industry pioneer and universally beloved as a supportive, hard-working teammate. He covered the NFL with extraordinary skill and passion, and was at the top of his field for decades. He will truly be missed by colleagues and fans, and our hearts and thoughts are with his loved ones,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro shared at the time of his death.

Mortensen played a pivotal role in ESPN programming for decades, and impacted many within the industry, and even some legends on the field. Peyton Manning was one of those names, releasing a touching statement on his passing nearly one year ago.

“Heartbroken,” Manning wrote in a post on Instagram. “We lost a true legend. Mort was the best in the business and I cherished our friendship. I trusted him with my announcement to sign with the Broncos and with the news of my retirement. I will miss him dearly and my thoughts and prayers are with Micki & his family. Rest in peace, Mort.”

Now, he’s being honored at the Super Bowl for all of his colleagues to remember the contributions he made to sports journalism. A touching tribute to a man who impacted so many within the industry.