Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez is being sued and could soon be facing charges following violent choke incident in Indianapolis on Saturday. He is now suffering serious lasting damage from the incident. The one-time all-pro and college football national champion played ten seasons in the league. He was beaten, stabbed and pepper sprayed by a 69-year-old truck driver known as “PT”. The clash had started at a hotel loading dock. It came just hours before Sanchez was slated to report on an NFL matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and Las Vegas Raiders.
Sanchez, who retired from professional football in July 2019, was said to be in stable condition after being treated for non-life-threatening injuries. He now faces serious legal consequences. His current charges include battery with injury, public intoxication, and unlawful entry of a vehicle. The battery charge is a level-five felony. This felony charge would carry a possible jail sentence of six years in prison and as much as a $10,000 fine.
According to eyewitness accounts, the fight started after Sanchez both physically and verbally attacked PT over a parking issue. The confrontation had turned violent almost immediately. Some witnesses said Sanchez slammed PT into a dumpster before the other woman assaulted Sanchez. He claimed he then pulled out pepper spray to defend himself, causing Sanchez to stab him “two or three times.”
According to news reports, Sanchez was inebriated during the crash. According to PT, “he smelled of alcohol.” Days after the stabbing, Sanchez was taken into custody and eventually charged with several felonies in connection with the melee.
Sanchez’s foray into sports media started just after his retirement. He began as a member of ESPN’s college football coverage before eventually moving to Fox Sports in 2021. At Fox, he’s played a role in the network’s expansive FS1 studio programming and has overall kept a strong voice in functioning sports journalism.
The incident has raised a lot of alarm and awareness among local officials and the community. Local official Chris Bailey did not mince words when condemning the violence that erupted.
“I don’t care who you are. I don’t care what you do for a living. I don’t care where you live. If you come into our city, commit violence, we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold you accountable.” – Chris Bailey
Sanchez’s professional career began when he was selected by the New York Jets as the fifth overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He’s become known for his stint with the Jets. Those names aside, his career was still heavily stamped for other teams—particularly the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys.
As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains unclear how this incident will affect Sanchez’s future in sports broadcasting and his public image.