NFL analyst Chris Mortensen stepping away from ESPN

Longtime NFL analyst Chris Mortensen announced on Tuesday that he decided to step away from ESPN this offseason after 33 years.

Mortensen, now 71 years old, shared that his choice to “step away” isn’t a “classic” retirement and that he intends to continue commenting on the sport.

“Excited about another season but 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 shared, via X. “The gratitude and humility is overwhelming. It’s not a classic retirement. I’ll still be here talking ball. It’s just time. God Bless you all.”

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.

ESPN underwent some major changes this offseason. As part of more than a dozen layoffs, several prominent faces of the network parted ways ahead of the 2023 season.

On the football side, the team suffered heavy losses. ESPN terminated Suzy Kolber and Steve Young, two hosts of "Monday Night Countdown," the pre-game show for MNF. The network also let go of Keyshawn Johnson, an NFL analyst, and Todd McShay, ESPN’s long-time draft guru. David Pollack, who was part of the popular ESPN College Football GameDay traveling pre-game show, also lost his job.

NFL Network adds six new analysts

The NFL Network has announced the addition of six new analysts ahead of the start of the 2023 regular season. The network’s new talent will assist with studio shows, Super Bowl coverage, the NFL Scouting Combine and the NFL Draft.

Per NFL Media’s release, these are the six individuals joining the network for the upcoming season:

• Gerald McCoy (former DT)
• Chase Daniel (former QB)
• David Shaw (former Stanford HC)
• Leslie Frazier (former NFL HC)
• Pep Hamilton (former NFL OC)
• Robert Turbin (Super Bowl-winning RB)

NFL Network released a statement regarding the additions to the analyst pool this week.

“Former All-Pro defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, 14-year veteran quarterback Chase Daniel, former Stanford head coach David Shaw, former head coach and long-time assistant coach Leslie Frazier, former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton, and Super Bowl champion running back Robert Turbin have joined NFL Network as analysts, it was announced today,” the statement read.

All six will appear on a variety of NFL Network studio shows, as well as the network’s coverage of such events as Super Bowl, NFL Scouting Combine and NFL Draft.

The announcement comes just days before the start of the 2023 NFL regular season. The first game of the season is set for Thursday, Sept. 7 between the Detroit Lions and Kansas City. NBC carries the coverage with kickoff set for 8:20 p.m. ET.

On3’s Dustin Schutte contributed to this report.