NFL analyst Mark Sanchez arrested. Braun, Beckwith delete criticism of Indianapolis leaders

Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department issued the below statement shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday:

"After further investigation and following consultation with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, IMPD arrested 38-year-old Mark Sanchez for his alleged role in this incident.  Sanchez was arrested at the hospital for battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle and public intoxication, all which are misdemeanors. All involved parties have been identified, and no further individuals are being sought by detectives."

The below story will be updated:

INDIANAPOLIS — Former NFL quarterback and current Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez was apparently stabbed in an overnight altercation in downtown Indianapolis and was hospitalized on Saturday.

Sanchez, who was in Indianapolis to call Sunday’s Raiders-Colts game, was in stable condition, Fox Sports said on social media.

Indianapolis police released a statement that didn't identify Sanchez but said they were investigating a confrontation that occurred around 12:30 a.m. Saturday between two men, one of whom was hospitalized with stab wounds.

The other man received treatment for lacerations, police said. Detectives had reviewed video footage of the confrontation, which police said occurred in the popular downtown nightlife Wholesale District next to the Indiana statehouse.

Police said the case would be given to the Marion County prosecutor's office to decide on charges. That office didn't immediately respond to an inquiry from The Associated Press.

Police said neither man was a local resident and called it an “isolated incident between the two men and not a random act of violence.”

Few other details were available.

“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,” Fox Sports said.

Gov. Mike Braun and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith posted and then deleted social media posts critical of public safety in the city and Indianapolis leaders.

In a since-deleted post on X, Braun said when Indianapolis makes national news for a lack of public safety, “it hurts our city and our state.”

Beckwith, also on X, wrote, “Indianapolis is sliding into lawlessness because local leaders refuse to prosecute criminals and protect citizens.”

He called on the Indiana General Assembly to “step in” and give the governor and attorney general authority to enforce laws.

On late Saturday afternoon, WFYI reached out to Braun and Beckwith's offices for comment about why the posts were removed.

Some of Indiana's GOP elected officials have been highly critical of Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears.

Braun approved the Indiana State Police to offer support to Indianapolis police following a mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis over the Fourth of July weekend that left two juveniles dead and five others injured.

"It's at the point where something needs to change," Braun said in July, about public safety in the capital city.

Sanchez, 38, had a 10-year NFL career before retiring in 2019. He appeared on ABC and ESPN for two years before joining Fox Sports as a game analyst in 2021.

The Long Beach, California, native, starred at Southern California before he was selected by the New York Jets with the fifth pick in the 2009 NFL draft.

He passed for 3,207 yards and 34 touchdowns while leading the Trojans to a 12-1 record during his junior year, which included a victory over Penn State in the 2009 Rose Bowl.

He spent four seasons with the Jets, starting each of his 62 games while throwing for 12,092 yards and 68 touchdowns with 69 interceptions. The Jets lost in the AFC championship in each of Sanchez’s first two years in the league.

Sanchez also appeared in games with Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington. He finished his playing career with 15,357 yards passing, 86 TD passes and 89 interceptions.

The Jets and several of Sanchez's former teammates posted message of support on social media on Saturday.

“Sending our thoughts and love to Mark Sanchez and his family. Hoping for a speedy recovery, 6,” the Jets said, using Sanchez's former jersey number.

“Send prayers up for my former teammate mark.. sucks so much to see this,” Kerry Rhodes wrote.

“So sad. Pray for his recovery,” Nick Mangold wrote.