Vaughn McClure, a member of ESPN’s NFL protection group since 2013, died this week at his dwelling close to Atlanta. He was 48.
McClure joined ESPN to cowl the NFL, and settled in on the Atlanta Falcons beat as a part of NFL Nation. He lined the group throughout its run to Tremendous Bowl LI in 2017. He contributed to ESPN’s tv and radio protection of the Falcons and NFL as nicely.
“All of us cherished Vaughn,” mentioned John Pluym, senior deputy editor for digital NFL protection at ESPN. “He had a coronary heart of gold. He was so useful to our reporters. In the previous couple of hours, we have heard so many tales about how Vaughn had helped them with a narrative or how he put in a great phrase for them with a coach or participant.”
Pluym added: “Speaking to Vaughn on the telephone was all the time a pleasure. I cherished how you possibly can simply sense the thrill in his voice for with the ability to cowl the Falcons for ESPN. We’ll all miss him drastically. And I will finish this the way in which Vaughn ended each telephone name with a colleague: ‘Recognize you. Love you.’ All of us cherished him, too.”
McClure got here to ESPN after overlaying the Bears for the Chicago Tribune six seasons.
“Individuals will most likely keep in mind how Vaughn was capable of join and develop trusting relationships with most of the athletes he lined, or how diligent he was about deadlines, or the numerous instances he volunteered to assist out a colleague on one other sport,” mentioned Patricia Mays, senior director of content material technique and distribution at ESPN, who introduced McClure to the corporate. “However what I revered most was how dedicated he was to repeatedly enhancing. One of many final emails I acquired from him was asking for suggestions. He wrote: ‘Would love to speak to you after the season about how I can get higher at a variety of issues. I wish to be nice at this job.’ “
Amongst his different assignments on the Tribune was overlaying the Bulls within the postseason. Beforehand, he lined Notre Dame soccer for the Chicago Solar-Instances and Fresno State basketball for the Fresno Bee. He additionally labored on the South Bend Tribune and DeKalb Every day Chronicle.
McClure graduated from Northern Illinois College in 1994 and was a Chicago native.
