Former Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez was hospitalized on Saturday after reportedly being stabbed in Indianapolis.
The violence unfolded on a street downtown in the early hours of the morning. The Indianapolis Metro Police Department confirmed in a statement that officers were called to the area of Senate Avenue and West Washington Street to investigate an incident just after 12:30 a.m.
It involved “two adult males,” including the former first-round draft pick, who was rushed to an area hospital.
According to authorities, one of the men suffered “lacerations,” while the other — apparently 38-year-old Sanchez — sustained “injuries consistent with stab wounds.” He remained hospitalized Saturday but was in stable condition, police said.
The IMPD further noted the stabbing was likely “an isolated incident between the two men and not a random act of violence.”
No further information was provided, including details about what prompted the stabbing. The second person involved had not been publicly identified as of Saturday afternoon, though authorities said neither of the men were from the area.
An investigation into the incident, including a review of video footage, remains ongoing. The case will be presented to the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office for a charging decision, police said.
Sanchez, who was in Indianapolis for his broadcasting gig with FOX Sports, was supposed to call the upcoming Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.
“Mark Sanchez was injured in Indianapolis on Saturday and is currently recovering in the hospital in stable condition,” Fox Sports said in a statement.
“We are deeply grateful to the medical team for their exceptional care and support,” the network continued. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark, and we ask that everyone please respect his and his family’s privacy during this time.”
Sanchez played a total of eights seasons in the NFL after he was selected fifth overall in 2009 by the New York Jets. He helped lead the team to back-to-back AFC Championship Games in his first two seasons, and is the last Jets quarterback to win a playoff game.
“Sending our thoughts and love to Mark Sanchez and his family,” the Jets said in a post on X. “Hoping for a speedy recovery, 6.”
Sanchez also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and the then-Washington Redskins, where he played his last regular season game in 2018.
He announced his retirement in July 2019, and subsequently took a position with ESPN’s college football coverage. Sanchez later moved to Fox, where he currently calls NFL games and serves as an analyst on FS1 studio shows.
Originally Published: October 4, 2025 at 2:24 PM EDT
