New footage shows former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez staggering along an Indianapolis street, clutching a bleeding wound after being stabbed during a violent alleyway brawl.
The dramatic video, obtained by the New York Post, shows the 38-year-old visibly bloodied and grasping at his torso following the early Saturday morning (October 4) altercation with a 69-year-old truck driver.
Sanchez, who was in town to cover Sunday’s Colts-Raiders game for Fox Sports, appears disoriented in the footage, which was recorded minutes after the alleged attack.
Blood had soaked through his shirt as he stumbled from the alley into a nearby bar, where workers called for emergency help.
Timeline: From Fox Sports to Felony Charges
On Friday night (October 3), Sanchez was seen behaving “erratically,” including doing wind sprints in the alley behind Loughmiller’s Pub & Eatery, located just steps from the Indiana State Capitol.
Shortly after midnight, a grease truck driver arrived to collect cooking oil from a nearby hotel, blocking part of the alley. According to police documents, Sanchez forced his way into the box truck, claimed to have spoken to a manager, and demanded that the driver move.
The driver, who had removed his hearing aids due to the truck noise, leaned in to hear the former athlete, who allegedly smelled of alcohol and was slurring his words.
When the driver tried to call his supervisor, Sanchez reportedly blocked him, escalating tensions. Witnesses said the two circled each other and appeared to be filming on their phones before the situation turned physical. The ex-NFL star allegedly body-slammed the older man into a wall and then threw him to the ground.
The driver responded by spraying the athlete with mace or pepper spray. But as the 38-year-old continued to approach, the driver allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed him multiple times in the chest, reportedly thinking: “This guy is trying to kill me," cited by the US Sun.
Victim Also Severely Injured
The older man suffered extensive injuries himself. Photos shared online show him with a slash across his cheek.
Despite his wounds, the driver managed to remain conscious and was later seen sitting upright with a towel over his face as emergency crews arrived.
Sanchez Hospitalized, Arrested, Then Charged with Felony
Sanchez was taken to the hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery for stab wounds. Initially uncooperative with the police, he claimed he only remembered “grabbing for a window” and had no recollection of the incident or the alleged attacker.
He was arrested at the hospital and charged with misdemeanor counts of battery resulting in injury, public intoxication, and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle.
But by Monday (October 6), prosecutors upgraded the charges to a Level 5 felony battery causing serious injury due to the extent of the truck driver’s wounds and his age.
If convicted, Sanchez faces up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He posted a $300 cash bond and was booked into Marion County Jail after being discharged Sunday morning.
The alley near Loughmiller’s Pub, where the brawl occurred, has since drawn curious passersby. Some snapped pictures of the blood stains still visible on the sidewalk.
“Nothing interesting happens down here,” one local said. “It’s pretty f***ing crazy,” her coworker added.
Public sympathy for Sanchez appeared thin. “It sounds like he deserved it. He beat up a 69-year-old man,” one woman outside the bar said. “I’m shocked that people still act like that,” a nearby employee commented. “I’m just shocked that we can’t be cordial enough to let someone do their job.”
Sanchez, drafted in 2009, played for the New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys before retiring in 2018. As a Fox Sports analyst, he was slated to appear on-air for the Colts-Raiders game but was notably absent.
Sanchez has not released any public statement. He is expected back in court on Tuesday.