ESPN NFL analyst Chris Mortensen has been diagnosed with Stage IV throat cancer and will take a leave of absence for treatment, the network announced on Friday.
Mortensen announced the diagnosis in a statement released through ESPN.
“More than a week ago, I was diagnosed with a Stage IV throat cancer,” Mortensen said in the statement. “My focus shifted significantly to gathering information about the specifics of this cancer. The initial diagnosis was confirmed Friday and there is another test remaining that will determine the best possible treatment plan that will commence in the very immediate future.
“Consequently, with the support and encouragement from ESPN president John Skipper and many others at ESPN, I am temporarily stepping away from my normal NFL coverage duties to better engage this opportunity to fight the good fight that is projected to affect almost 1.7 million Americans with new cases in 2016.”
Mortensen has been at ESPN since 1991 and has become ubiquitous with ESPN’s NFL reporting. We wish him all the best in his battle and hope to see him back on the air healthy soon.
