ESPN stars pay tribute after network researcher, 41, dies of cancer: ‘We love you, buddy’

ESPN lost one of its own after a two-year battle with cancer, the network announced on Monday’s edition of “SportsCenter.” 

Research manager Zach Jones tragically passed away at the age of 41 after fighting Colorectal Cancer. 

Jones had been with ESPN for 15 years, beginning in 2010 and moving to the Stats and Information team in 2018. 

“SportsCenter” anchor Randy Scott paid tribute to Jones on the air in an emotional moment. 

“You may have never seen him on your screens, but you saw his work. On our live golf coverage, on our women’s basketball coverage or any of our ‘SportsCenter’ shows. He came here in 2010 as a researcher and joined the management teams of the Stats and Information group in 2018,” Scott said. 

“But more important than that, he got married here; he started a family here. The Stanford graduate loved the Cardinal and he loved golf. He loved his wife, Amber. And 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, but he was also reflective.

“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. Zach Jones was 41 years old.”

Kevin Negandhi also memorialized Jones in a post on social media. 

“May you rest in peace Zach,” Negandhi wrote. “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.”

“Baseball Tonight” producer Gregg Colli also paid tribute to Jones in a post on X. 

“Zach was the best. The original fantasy football researcher who handled a ridiculous volume of work with a smile and no complaints. He was as good a human as it gets. Cancer Sucks!” Colli wrote.