Former New York Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez, 38, was reportedly stabbed early Saturday morning in Indianapolis ahead of Sunday's Raiders vs. Colts game. Sanchez, now an NFL analyst for Fox Sports, was in the city as part of the broadcast crew. TMZ first reported the story.
What Police Say About the Incident
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
According to police reports, the incident occurred shortly after midnight when Sanchez and another man allegedly got into a verbal argument outside a downtown Indianapolis bar.
Police responded around 12:30 a.m. after receiving a call regarding a man suffering stab wounds, who was later confirmed to be Sanchez. The athlete was rushed to a local hospital.
Fox Sports quickly released 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."
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Support Pours In For Mark Sanchez
Messages of support and concern flooded in across social media, from fans, fellow analysts, and the NY Jets organization. Quotes included "Praying for my guy" and "Prayers for Sanchez."
Details Emerging From Law Enforcement
New information from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department describes the stabbing as "an isolated incident." "Two adult males [were involved], resulting in one man receiving lacerations and the other sustaining injuries consistent with stab wounds," police said. "Detectives believe this was an isolated incident between the two men and not a random act of violence. Both men received medical treatment. The man with the apparent stab wounds remains hospitalized in stable condition."
The case is under review, and police have reviewed video footage.
Mark Sanchez's Football and Broadcasting Journey
Sanchez was a standout quarterback at USC and was selected in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft by the Jets. During his 10 seasons in the NFL, he also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Washington Redskins (now Commanders).
After retiring in 2019, he transitioned into broadcasting, eventually joining Fox Sports as an NFL analyst.
Personal Life and Family
Sanchez is married to actress Perry Mattfeld; they welcomed twin daughters earlier in 2025. He also has a son named Daniel from a previous relationship.
Mattfeld, a former USC cheerleader, plays a coaching staff member in Hulu's Chad Powers and has spoken about how unexpectedly aligned the role is with her life.
"Football has always been a huge part of my life, but there's never been any crossover with my acting career," Mattfeld told Glamour. "So to all of a sudden have this role where I'm talking offense and plays, I was just like, Oh my God, I know all of this so well. It was so exciting for me."
No Public Statement Issued
Mark Sanchez has not yet made a public statement regarding the stabbing incident.
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