Former NFL quarterback and Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez has spoken publicly for the first time since his October arrest in Indianapolis, marking two months since the late-night altercation that left him hospitalized with multiple stab wounds and facing criminal charges.
“This time of year always makes me look around and appreciate what matters, but this one hits different,” Sanchez wrote in an Instagram post shared on Friday, December 5.
He continued: “I’m just grateful — to wake up, to be home, and to be able to wrap my arms around my wife and kids. Thank you to the people who kept me standing and gave my family opportunities to share moments like these. From our family to yours, we wish you a happy and peaceful holiday season.”
The 38-year-old did not directly address his ongoing case or the October 4 incident in downtown Indianapolis, which resulted in one felony and three misdemeanor charges.
Since being released from the hospital, Sanchez has largely stayed silent, allowing his brother, Nick Sanchez Jr., to issue statements on behalf of the family. The latest of those came last month after Fox confirmed Sanchez’s departure from the network and named Drew Brees as his replacement on NFL broadcasts.
According to NBC Sports, court records show Sanchez is charged with one count of felony battery resulting in serious bodily injury and three misdemeanors: battery resulting in injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and public intoxication. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Police say the altercation began when Sanchez confronted 69-year-old truck driver Perry Tole, who was collecting used cooking oil outside The Westin Indianapolis.
Surveillance footage cited in court filings shows Sanchez grabbing and throwing Tole against a wall before being pepper-sprayed. Tole later told officers he feared for his life and used a knife in self-defense, stabbing Sanchez multiple times.
Both men were treated at local hospitals. Sanchez was later booked into the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and released under pre-trial supervision. Tole has since filed a civil lawsuit naming Sanchez and FOX Corp. as defendants.
Sanchez’s attorney, Tim Delaney, previously told the court that his client is “still recovering from the injuries he sustained” and thanked the judge for allowing him to miss earlier hearings while undergoing medical treatment.