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Mark Sanchez's felony arrest over a violent altercation with a 69-year-old delivery truck driver will cost him his NFL analyst job at Fox, a network insider has told the Daily Mail.
The incident is being viewed as a 'career-ending event' for the 38-year-old NFL announcer, who has been on TV for the six years since he retired as a player.
Sanchez's firing is not imminent, but the source says the ex-quarterback's time at Fox is effectively over.
'He's already been told that he won't be on camera again, and we've made the moves to replace him,' the source told Daily Mail. 'As long as there are serious charges pending we really just can't have him on screen.
'He has not yet been officially fired, because that takes some legalities, but that's where this is going,' the source continued. 'He has a morals clause in his contract, like everyone else. This arrest violates that clause, and it's a terminable offense.
'I guarantee within the next couple days, a statement will say that Sanchez and Fox have decided to part ways. This is a career-ending event, especially while things haven't even gone to court yet.'
Daily Mail has reached out for comment to both Fox and Sanchez's attorney.
Sanchez has not spoken publicly since the incident, but attorneys working on his behalf have filed a motion to waive Tuesday's scheduled pretrial hear and enter a plea of not guilty.
Mark Sanchez was bleeding from his chest when he pounded on the pub window Saturday
A grease truck driver, identified in court documents as only PT, is seen lying in a hospital bed, covered in blood with a huge gash on his face and a brace around his neck
The former New York Jets star was in Indianapolis to call Sunday's Raiders-Colts game, but was ultimately replaced by former Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn following the stabbing and arrest.
Sanchez was hospitalized in critical condition early Saturday morning after being stabbed in the chest during the altercation outside an Indianapolis pub, according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Daily Mail.
The former USC star was later arrested at an Indianapolis hospital after being accused of drunkenly instigating the brawl with the 69-year-old truck driver, resulting in serious injuries for both men.
Sanchez was initially charged with public intoxication, battery resulting in bodily injury and unauthorized entry of a motor vehicle – all misdemeanors. However, Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears has since added a felony charge of battery involving serious bodily injury, which carries a penalty of up to six years in prison if convicted.
The driver, identified in the affidavit as PT, suffered a facial laceration and an injury to his neck, as seen in photos publicized by PT's family.
Based on hotel security footage and testimony from P.T., Sanchez is accused of drunkenly accosting the driver, who was trying to back his box truck into a hotel's loading dock. PT told police Sanchez pursued him, entered his vehicle and threatened him, causing the driver to pepper spray his pursuer, according to the affidavit.
Loughmiller's Pub & Eatery bartender Scott Bennett told Fox59.com that Sanchez thought he'd been shot following the stabbing early Saturday morning in an Indianapolis ally
Undeterred, Sanchez allegedly pursued the driver and continued to strike the man, who fell back into a dumpster and onto pallets strewn about on the ground.
PT then pulled out a knife and stabbed Sanchez several times in his chest in because, as the driver told police, he believed 'this guy is trying to kill me.'
Sanchez fled after being stabbed, according to the affidavit. Later, after a local bartender called 911, Sanchez was rushed to hospital in critical condition.
PT later told police Sanchez smelled of alcohol and slurred his speech.
Daily Mail has reached out to Sanchez's attorney for comment. The retired quarterback is due in court on Tuesday. However, his attorney has filed a motion to waive the pretrial hearing and enter a plea of not guilty.
Mears announced the new felony charge for Sanchez on Monday morning, citing 'additional information.'
'At this point in time, we have filed a felony charge – a Level 5 felony – of battery involving seriously bodily injury which contains a penalty of one to six years.'
Mears stressed the investigation remains in the early stages and that police still have a 'number of search warrants' outstanding and are 'tracking down additional information'.
'This is by no means the end of this investigation,' he continued, adding that additional charges in the case could be possible.
Despite his brutal wounds, PT's 'shocked' family told The New York Post on Sunday he is doing 'OK.'
His wife also told WXIN that PT suffered lacerations to his cheek and tongue.
Scott Bennett, who was closing up at Loughmiller's Pub & Eatery around the time of the alleged assault, said he helped tend to Sanchez's wounds.
He told WXIN how Sanchez was covered in blood and 'beating on the window' outside the closed bar. Bennett said he helped Sanchez inside the pub, putting towels over his injuries before calling 911.
'There was definitely blood,' he told the TV station. 'Some from the chest and some from the abdomen and crotch region, there was blood on his pants.'
Sanchez reportedly has very little recollection of the night, telling a police officer that 'all he could remember was grabbing for a window.'
He added that he didn't know who stabbed him or where the incident occurred.
Sanchez was the fifth-overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft before an up-and-down career with the Jets that is often remembered for the infamous 'Butt Fumble' – when the California native lost the football after running into the backside of offensive lineman Brandon Moore during a 2012 loss to the rival New England Patriots.
He has been with Fox Sports since leaving ESPN in 2021.
Sanchez married actress Perry Mattfeld in 2023 and the couple has one son.
