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Judge Makes Decision On Mark Sanchez's Criminal Trial

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Nov 28, 2025 5:42 PM ET

It's been a month since former NFL quarterback and broadcaster Mark Sanchez was stabbed in Indianapolis and subsequently arrested for his role in the fight that resulted in his near-fatal encounter.

As Sanchez awaits his criminal trial, the presiding judge in the case has made an important decision.

According to court records, Sanchez's trial has been moved from December of this year to March 12, 2026. The decision was likely reached to grant Sanchez extra time to prepare for his concurrent civil trial over the same incident.

"The extension gives Sanchez’s legal team an extra four months to craft their defense, while a parallel civil trial has become more complicated since the original incident in early October. The alleged victim of a stabbing incident at the hands of Sanchez in early October sued him and his former employer, Fox, shortly after being discharged from the hospital," Awful Announcing's Brendon Kleen wrote on Friday.

Judge agrees to push Mark Sanchez’s criminal trial to 2026 https://t.co/oFMf5nCKfG pic.twitter.com/kqdrVf3Vvy
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 28, 2025

The Incident

In early October 2025, Sanchez was involved in a violent late-night altercation in downtown Indianapolis that left him hospitalized with stab wounds. The conflict reportedly began over a parking dispute with a 69-year-old truck driver near a hotel’s loading dock.

According to police and prosecutor statements, Sanchez—who allegedly appeared intoxicated—accosted the driver, attempted to enter his vehicle, and pushed him; the driver responded first with pepper spray and then fatally stabbed Sanchez in self-defense when Sanchez advanced again.

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 21: Fox TV analyst Mark Sanchez looks on prior to the game between the Washington Football Team and Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 21, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Following the incident, Sanchez was initially charged with misdemeanors including battery with injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and public intoxication. Those charges were later upgraded to a Level 5 felony battery charge, involving serious bodily injury, which could carry a sentence of 1 to 6 years in prison.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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