Former first-round NFL draft pick and current Fox Sports broadcaster Mark Sanchez has reportedly been hospitalized. He was reported to initially be in critical condition, but is now in stable condition, per Fox Sports. According to TMZ Sports, the former New York Jets quarterback was stabbed overnight in downtown Indianapolis.
Sanchez was in town to call Sunday’s Indianapolis Colts game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Mark Sanchez stabbing updates
On Saturday early evening, Indianapolis Police announced that Sanchez was placed under arrested for his role in the incident:
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department now says Mark Sanchez has been arrested for his alleged role in the incident during which he was stabbed early this morning. pic.twitter.com/rI1kIThqa4
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 4, 2025
Per Fox59 in Indianapolis, the individual who allegedly stabbed Sanchez is claiming self defense. The station adds that the individual called the former quarterback “the aggressor.” The station adds that the victim is 69 years old. The station also reported more details about the alleged incident involving Sanchez:
According to this source, the stabbing took place near Loughmiller’s Pub & Eatery. Sanchez was allegedly stabbed in the chest, taken to the hospital for surgery, and is the individual listed as being in critical condition by police, sources say.
The second individual also reportedly had “significant injuries” and claimed Sanchez was the aggressor in the incident and that he was merely defending himself with a knife.
According to FOX59/CBS4 sources, Sanchez wasn’t cooperative with responding police officers.
The second individual involved in the incident reportedly told police he was making a food delivery when Sanchez told him to leave and that he couldn’t park in the alley. The victim claimed Sanchez became aggressive and he first tried to use pepper spray to defend himself.
Here’s more from TMZ’s original story:
Police received a call around 12:30 AM Saturday morning to a street in downtown Indianapolis for two injured people … and one of the people was the former first-round draft pick.
We’re told Sanchez was rushed to a local hospital in critical condition.
It’s unclear what led to the violent incident.
On Saturday afternoon, Fox released an official statement regarding the incident and Sanchez’s condition, which improved to stable:
FOX Sports Statement:
“Mark Sanchez was injured in Indianapolis on Saturday and is currently recovering in the hospital in stable condition. We are deeply grateful to the medical team for their exceptional care and support. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, and we ask that…
— FOX Sports PR (@FOXSportsPR) October 4, 2025
As for Fox’s broadcast on Sunday, the network will replace Sanchez with Brady Quinn for the Colts game vs. the Raiders:
BREAKING:Brady Quinn will replace Mark Sanchez in Fox’s broadcast booth for Colts-Raiders on Sunday. Mark Sanchez arrested in hospital. https://t.co/3vTKQVMkak
— Michael McCarthy (@MMcCarthyREV) October 4, 2025
What happened to Mark Sanchez?
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police released an initial statement regarding the incident, including that officers responded to a report of a physical disturbance at 12:30 a.m. on Oct. 4. The IMPD said two men were involved in an isolated incident and it was not a random act. The statement added that charges from the incident will be decided by the Marion County Prosecutor’s office:
Statement from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department on the situation that resulted in Mark Sanchez being stabbed and hospitalized: pic.twitter.com/uxIQ3AhIDY
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 4, 2025
WTHR reported that police stated a person was detained at the scene.
Fox 59 reporter Max Lewis reported that Sanchez “may have been the aggressor:”
#BREAKING: FOX Sports has confirmed that former NFL quarterback, now TV analyst Mark Sanchez was stabbed in downtown Indianapolis early Saturday morning. Police say it stemmed from a fight and a report we obtained indicates that Sanchez may have been the aggressor. pic.twitter.com/bAEWB54qoj
— Max Lewis (@MaxLewisTV) October 4, 2025
Who is Mark Sanchez?
Sanchez played college football at USC for former Trojans head coach Pete Carroll from 2005-08. He led USC to a 12-1 finish and a win in the Rose Bowl over Penn State during his 2008 season, his first as a full-time starter. He declared for the 2009 NFL draft.
That year, he was selected fifth overall by the New York Jets in the first round. He spent five seasons with the Jets, leading New York to the AFC Championship Game in 2010 and 2011. The signal-caller set the Jets franchise record for most postseason victories by a quarterback with four, and the most game-winning drives in a single season with six in 2010.
He suffered a shoulder injury during New York’s preseason in 2013, and missed the full season. He was released by the Jets in 2014. Sanchez also spent time with the Eagles, Broncos, Cowboys, Bears and Redskins through 2018, retiring officially from the NFL in 2019.
He joined Fox Sports in July 2021 as a broadcaster. He shares three children with his wife, Perry Mattfeld, whom he married in 2023.
This is a breaking news story that will be updated.
