Mark Sanchez sued over Indianapolis fight, stabbing

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NFL broadcaster Mark Sanchez stands on the field prior to an NFL football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on September 21, 2025 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)

INDIANAPOLIS - A 69-year-old truck driver who was seriously injured in a fight allegedly started by former NFL quarterback and sports analyst Mark Sanchez has filed a lawsuit against Sanchez and his employer, FOX Corporation, in Indiana state court.

Lawyers for Perry Tole filed the lawsuit Monday in Indiana's Marion Superior Court, seeking an unspecified amount in actual and punitive damages, as well as attorney's fees. The lawsuit accuses Sanchez of instigating a fight with Tole late Saturday night outside a downtown Indianapolis hotel, leading to "severe permanent disfigurement, loss of function" and other injuries and emotional distress.

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Tole also stabbed Sanchez several times in the fight, according to police. A picture of Tole circulating online shows him in a neck brace on a hospital bed, covered in blood with a deep slash to the side of his face.

RELATED: Mark Sanchez now faces felony charge after stabbing incident in Indianapolis

What they're saying:

According to the Associated Press, a media contact for FOX Corporation did not immediately respond to an email Tuesday seeking comment. Attorneys representing Sanchez in his criminal case declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Attorneys representing Tole in the lawsuit, which requested a trial by jury, did not immediately return calls seeking comment.

Sanchez is facing a felony battery charge, along with several misdemeanor charges, for what prosecutors said Monday was a fight over parking.

RELATED: Mark Sanchez arrested after Indianapolis stabbing that left him hospitalized

"We are literally talking about people fighting over a parking space and-or a dispute about where people are parking, and it resulted in someone receiving just incredibly significant injures," Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a news conference Monday.

Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez faces felony charge in Indianapolis stabbing case

Former NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez was pepper-sprayed and stabbed multiple times during a late-night altercation with a 69-year-old truck driver in a downtown Indianapolis alley, which resulted in criminal charges against the Fox Sports analyst. FOX 5 New York reports.

The backstory:

A police affidavit says the 38-year-old Sanchez, smelling of alcohol, accosted Tole, who had backed his truck into a hotel’s loading docks in downtown Indianapolis. Tole's lawsuit said Sanchez entered Tole's truck without permission, then physically blocked and shoved Tole, who then doused Sanchez with pepper spray.

When Sanchez advanced after being sprayed, Tole pulled a knife to defend himself, authorities said.

Fmr. NFL QB Mark Sanchez stabbed in Indianapolis

Ex-NFL quarterback and current FOX sports host Mark Sanchez was reportadly stabbed in Indianapolis following an altercation. According to FOX sports Sanchez is in stable condition. He was scheduled to call Sunday's game between the Colts and Raiders.

Sanchez was hospitalized with stab wounds to his upper right torso, according to a police affidavit.

Sanchez was in Indianapolis for Fox's coverage of Sunday’s game between the Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders.

Sanchez had a 10-year NFL career before retiring in 2019. He spent four seasons with the Jets and also appeared in games with Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington.

He appeared on ABC and ESPN for two years before joining Fox Sports as a game analyst in 2021.

Editorial note: This station is owned by the same parent company as FOX Sports.