Friday, September 18, 2026

Fox Fires Mark Sanchez After Indianapolis Arrest

The network confirmed to FOS that Drew Brees is replacing Sanchez on its No. 3 NFL announcing team.

Mark Sanchez
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Fox Sports has made a quarterback announcer change.

Drew Brees is replacing Mark Sanchez on the network’s third NFL team, a Fox Sports spokesperson confirmed to Front Office Sports.

Fox formally announced the Brees hire Friday, and a spokesperson told FOS, “We can confirm that Mark Sanchez is no longer with the network. There will be no further comment at this time.” 

The Athletic first reported that Brees was hired by Fox, and that the expectation was that this signaled the end of Sanchez’s time with the network. 

Sanchez was arrested in Indianapolis last month in a bizarre incident in which he was accused of violently accosting a service worker who was tasked with removing grease from commercial kitchens at a nearby hotel. Sanchez had a dispute with the worker—apparently over where the man’s truck was parked—and was hospitalized after the worker stabbed him, allegedly in self-defense. 

Sanchez’s charges from the incident include a felony charge of battery resulting in serious bodily injury. 

“Right now, I’m just focused on my recovery, and I just want to thank the first responders, Eskenazi Hospital, Marion County Sheriff, and the Indianapolis Police Department, metro PD,” Sanchez told reporters in Indianapolis about a week after the incident. “But I’m focused on my recovery, and I just want to see my wife, I want to see my son, my two baby girls. There’ll be a day to answer all these questions, and unfortunately, today is not that day.”

While Brees is a Super Bowl champion and a leading candidate for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, he is something of a reclamation project for Fox. He was previously a color commentator for NBC for Notre Dame games, but he did not succeed in the role. He will be working alongside play-by-play announcer Adam Amin for the rest of the season for Fox. 

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for the
Tuned In Newsletter

Get the latest sports media scoops & insights straight to your inbox once a week.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 10, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay during practice at Marvel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

McVay’s Australia Gripe Highlights NFL’s Business-Football Divide

The Rams coach is looking to forget the team’s struggles in Australia.
Hot & Social/Mets

Sports Teams Are Playing a New Role: Matchmaker

The latest promotion at the stadium? Love.
Tigers Head Coach Lane Kiffin, LSU Tigers take on the LA Tech Bulldogs. September 12, 2026; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; at Tiger Stadium.

How Lane Kiffin Built College Football’s Most Anticipated Game

Kiffin’s return to Oxford has been nearly 10 months in the making.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

NFL Ratings Dip, Steve Belichick Resigns, Knicks Ticket Refunds

0:00

Featured Today

Exclusive

Vicious Infighting Is Jeopardizing the Future of Women’s Baseball

The WPBL’s own CEO admits there’s a “power struggle.”
September 17, 2026

Fantasy Football Drafts Are Turning Into Full-Blown Vacations

Leagues are foregoing solo drafts and replacing them with in-person getaways.
Oct 4, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; General action during the first period of the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mullett Arena
September 10, 2026

How Military-Style Workouts in College Sports Get Dangerous

For elite athletes, high-intensity training can be “very appealing.”
September 6, 2026

Is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett the Future Face of Giants Ownership?

Amid changes at top of Giants ownership, eyes are on Tisch Blodgett.
September 4, 2026

Wild Transfer Window Shows How Premier League Towers Over Soccer

Spending in England vastly outstripped the rest of Europe.
Hawkeye and Oregon fans gather for FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff Nov. 8, 2025 in front of the Old Capitol Building on the University of Iowa Campus in Iowa City, Iowa.

College Football’s London Debut Brings Big Opportunity for Fox

Kansas and Arizona State are facing off at Wembley Stadium.
Sep 11, 2026; Melbourne, AUS; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) rushes the ball in the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at Melbourne Cricket Ground. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
September 17, 2026

NFL Week 1 Ratings Fall 13% Despite New Broadcast Schedule

The league saw a surprisingly sharp drop in viewership.
Brian Windhorst ESPN
September 17, 2026

Brian Windhorst Discusses Global Podcast Tour, LeBron’s Fanatics Deal

Windhorst also discussed the Clippers’ punishment and LeBron’s potential commute.
Sponsored

Drew Weatherford’s Bet on the Youth Sports Economy

Drew Weatherford discusses investing across the youth, college and professional levels.
Mike Tomlin NBC Sports
Opinion
September 17, 2026

Sports Media Winners and Losers From the Start of Football Season

There were plenty of sports media happenings across college and the NFL.
Oct 2, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Rams mascot Rampage (center) visits Ryan Fitzpatrick (left) and Andrew Whitworth on the Prime Thursday Night Football set at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
September 16, 2026

Why Fitzpatrick and Whitworth Won’t Trade Studio for the Booth

The Prime Video analysts also weighed in on the Rams’ Week 1 loss.
Jun 24, 2024; Eugene, OR, USA; NBC Sports broadcaster Mike Tirico during the US Olympic Team Trials at Hayward Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
September 16, 2026

Tirico Addresses Michael Jordan’s NBC Exit, Hopeful He’ll Return

Jordan served as a “special contributor” for NBC last season.
Dec 25, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; General view of the Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football logo at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
September 16, 2026

Amazon’s Bills-Lions Game Shows Established NFL Presence

The streamer will begin the season with the new Highmark Stadium opening.