Mark Sanchez was released from hospital on Sunday after being stabbed in the chest during a violent fight with a delivery driver in Indianapolis – and immediately taken to jail to be booked over the same brawl, according to reports.
The ex-NFL quarterback and Fox Sports commentator, who was in town to cover Sunday’s game between the Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders, was arrested for battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication after the shocking bust-up early Saturday morning.
The driver is said to have initially pepper sprayed Sanchez before pulling a knife and striking him ‘two or three times’ when he allegedly continued to move towards him.
Sanchez was rushed to hospital with critical injuries, before Fox Sports and Indianapolis police confirmed he was in stable condition on Saturday afternoon. Gruesome hospital photos have also emerged of the alleged victim, who is said to be ‘ok’ despite the pictures showing him with a huge gash across his face.
According to TMZ, Sanchez was released from the hospital on Sunday and immediately sent to be processed through jail. The outlet added that his $300 cash bond had already been paid by his attorney.
Daily Mail has reached out to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Sanchez’s management for more information.
Ex-NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez has been released from the hospital amid his arrest
Sanchez, who is married to actress Perry Mattfield, was stabbed during a dispute on Saturday
The former New York Jets star was set to call the Colts-Raiders game on Sunday for Fox Sports
Graphic photos shared by Fox59 anchor Angela Ganote show the extent of the driver’s injuries from the dispute, as his face and neck were significantly bloodied. More specifically, the man was pictured with a deep laceration on his cheek.
Sanchez, who was in Indianapolis to call the Colts-Raiders game Fox, is accused of threatening, following and attacking the 69-year-old man, who pepper sprayed him before resorting to stabbing him.
According to an affidavit obtained by ESPN, Sanchez, 38, allegedly accosted the man at a loading dock in downtown Indianapolis.
As the confrontation escalated, the truck driver, out of fear, is said to have sprayed Sanchez in the face with pepper spray.
Sanchez reportedly continued to advance towards the driver, who thought the former quarterback was ‘trying to kill me’. The driver then pulled a knife, allegedly striking him ‘two or three times.’
The truck driver said he was then thrown against a dumpster, leading him to believe he was in a ‘life-or-death situation,’ before a ‘look of shock’ came over Sanchez’s face and he took off.
The driver told police that the dispute started over Sanchez telling him that he was barred from standing in the loading dock, per the orders of the hotel manager, according to TMZ.
He claimed that he could smell alcohol on the former quarterback’s breath and that he was slurring his words.
Mark and his wife Perry have twins together, while he also has an eight-year-old son, Daniel (center), from a previous relationship
TMZ’s Michael J. Babcock also reported that Sanchez had no recollection of what happened during the incident, according to someone who spoke with the ex-passer on Saturday morning.
Babcock added that Sanchez was ‘very out of it’ during that conversation due to being sedated.
More details of Sanchez’s behavior on the night later emerged, with Fox59 reporting – via a source – that Sanchez was doing ‘wind sprints’ in the alleyway shortly before the violent altercation occurred.
It is also claimed that the ex-passer wasn’t cooperative with responding police officers at the scene.
Ultimately, Sanchez is said to have sustained multiple stab wounds to his right torso.
As seen in the photos of the driver in the hospital, he suffered a deep laceration on his left cheek, and was taken to a different hospital than Sanchez for treatment.
Sanchez has been with Fox Sports as a broadcaster since 2021 following his 10-year NFL career
Sanchez last suited up in the 2018 NFL season for the formerly named Washington Redskins
In response to the news of Sanchez being stabbed, Fox Sports PR said Saturday in a 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 everyone please respect his and his family’s privacy during this time.
While Sanchez was hospitalized, he was replaced on the Colts-Raiders broadcast by Brady Quinn.
In response to the events, Chief Chris Bailey of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department said: ‘Proud of our IMPD officers and detectives who stayed focused on our mission and not the noise.
‘Their professionalism represents the best of our department. IMPD will continue to be a steady, reliable presence in our city because our community deserves nothing less.’
Sanchez is married to American actress Perry Mattfeld, and the couple have two children together after Perry gave birth to twins in March. Sanchez also has an eight-year-old son, Daniel, from one of his previous relationships.
The former quarterback played 10 seasons in the NFL, including four with the Jets after they selected him with the fifth overall pick in 2009.
He later spent time with the Eagles, Cowboys, formerly-named Redskins and Bears as a backup, before joining Fox Sports as a broadcaster in 2021.
Ahead of Sunday’s NFL slate, his Fox colleague Charissa Thompson read a statement offering ‘thoughts and prayers’ to Sanchez – without mentioning his arrest.
‘Friday night in Indianapolis, one of our team members, Mark Sanchez, was involved in an incident that we are still trying to wrap our heads around,’ Thompson told Fox Sports viewers.
‘At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, his family, and all of those involved.’
