ESPN anchor Randy Scott fought back the tears on air after announcing the tragic death of colleague Zach Jones, who has passed away just days before Christmas at the age of 41.
Jones, who spent 15 years with ESPN, but was working as a research manager for the network before his passing on Sunday after a two-year battle with colorectal cancer.
He leaves behind wife Amber and 10-year-old son Silas.
SportsCenter host Scott confirmed the devastating news during Monday’s edition of the show while paying an emotional tribute to Jones, describing his late colleague as ‘one of our own’.
‘ESPN lost one of our own yesterday. Research manager Zach Jones died Sunday after a two-year fight with colorectal cancer that had metastasized before his diagnosis,’ he said.
‘You may have never seen him on your screens, but you saw his work on our live golf coverage, on our women’s college basketball coverage or on any of our SportsCenter shows.
ESPN staffer Zach Jones has tragically died at 41 after a battle with colorectal cancer
‘He came here in 2010 as a researcher and joined the management team of the stats and information group in 2018, but more important than that… he got married here. He started a family here.’
Scott then continued before becoming visibly emotional: ‘The Stanford graduate loved the Cardinal and he loved golf. He loved his wife Amber, he loved his son Silas, who turned 10 last month – and he lost his dad three days before Christmas.’
‘I saw Zach in the cafeteria just a couple of weeks ago, he was hopeful and he was also reflective,’ he added. ‘He said he just wanted his family to be ok after a recent move to Texas.
‘He fought like hell. He gets to rest now. We love you buddy.’
Another SportsCenter anchor, Kevin Negandhi, paid his respects to Jones on social media following the news of his death.
‘May you rest in peace Zach,’ Negandhi wrote alongside a photo of Jones and his family.
‘A devoted dad who loved golf, the Chargers and his family. He was a fantastic researcher and had the perfect demeanor for TV. He will be missed by so many. Sending all of our love to his wife, son and their family. F*ck cancer.’
