Fox NFL analyst Mark Sanchez, 38, was hospitalized in stable condition after being stabbed early on Saturday, Oct. 4 in Indianapolis, and police said he has been arrested and charged with three misdemeanors for his alleged role in the incident.
Sanchez, a former NFL quarterback, was in the city to cover the Raiders-Colts game on Fox this Sunday.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said Sanchez was arrested at the hospital for ‘battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication, all which are misdemeanors. All involved parties have been identified and no further individuals are being sought by detectives.’
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office announced Sunday that Sanchez has been charged.
‘What began as a disagreement between a 38-year-old former professional athlete and a 69-year-old man should not have escalated into violence or left anyone seriously injured,’ prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a statement.
The Indianapolis Star, part of the USA TODAY Network, cited court documents and reported that the fight began over Sanchez being upset that the older man parked his work box truck at a loading dock to collect used cooking oil.
The 69-year-old told police that during the altercation, he reached into his pocket and pulled out pepper spray and sprayed Sanchez, who wiped it away.
The man thought, ‘This guy is trying to kill me,’ so he pulled out his knife, and when Sanchez came at him, the man struck him two or three times with the knife, he told police.
Sanchez was set to announce the game with play-by-play announcer Chris Myers and sideline reporter Kristina Pink. He joined Fox Sports in 2021 and previously worked for ESPN/ABC for two years.
Brady Quinn will now be the analyst for the Raiders-Colts game, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported.
‘Friday night in Indianapolis, one of our team members, Mark Sanchez, was involved in an incident that we’re still trying to wrap our heads around,’ Fox Sports’ Charissa Thompson said during pregame coverage. ‘At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, his family, and all of those involved.’
Sanchez was a quarterback in the NFL for 10 seasons after being drafted fifth overall by the New York Jets in 2009. He played with the Jets (2009-13), Philadelphia Eagles (2014-15), Dallas Cowboys (2016), Chicago Bears (2017) and Washington (2018) before retiring in 2019.
‘Sending our thoughts and love to Mark Sanchez and his family,’ the Jets posted on social media Saturday. ‘Hoping for a speedy recovery, 6.’
This story has been updated with new information and to add a video and a gallery.