AP
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Fox Sports has let go of NFL analyst Mark Sanchez and employed Drew Brees in his place.
“We can confirm that Mark Sanchez is no longer with the network. There will be no further comment at this time,” a Fox Sports spokesman informed The Associated Press on Friday.
Sanchez has been off the air since police mentioned he was stabbed throughout a struggle with a truck driver exterior an Indianapolis resort on October 4. He was in Indianapolis for Fox’s protection of the October 5 sport between the Colts and the Las Vegas Raiders. Sanchez faces a felony battery cost, together with a number of misdemeanor prices, for what prosecutors have mentioned was a struggle over parking. Sanchez and Fox Sports additionally face a civil lawsuit filed by the motive force, 69-year-old Perry Tole.
Brees will exchange Sanchez on Fox’s No. 4 NFL crew and will workforce up with play-by-play announcer Adam Amin and sideline reporter Kristina Pink. Brees’ first sport will probably be on November 16.
Brees retired from the NFL following the 2020 season after a 20-year profession with the San Diego Chargers and New Orleans, together with main the Saints to their solely Super Bowl title throughout the 2009 season.
He joined NBC in 2021 as an analyst for Notre Dame school soccer video games and was within the studio most Sundays for “Football Night in America.” Brees referred to as a wild-card sport between the Las Vegas Raiders and Cincinnati Bengals however noticeably struggled. NBC and Brees parted methods a pair months later.
Brees made a studio look throughout “Fox NFL Sunday” earlier this season and is slated to be an analyst for one among Netflix’s two Christmas Day video games.
“Drew is one of the best to ever play the game, and we couldn’t be more excited to have his prolific credentials and unique insights as part of our coverage on Sundays,” mentioned Brad Zager, Fox Sports president of manufacturing & operations and govt producer. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Fox Sports family.”
Brees added in an announcement that he appreciated the chance to affix Fox and that “I hope my passion for this game is reflected in the knowledge and insights I provide to the fans each Sunday.”
In his first yr of eligibility, Brees is among the many checklist of 52 modern-era gamers being thought-about for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.
Brees stays second all-time in league historical past in passing yards (80,358) and passing touchdowns (571).
While Brees takes over, Sanchez’s authorized points will go on.
An Indianapolis choose scheduled his trial to start on December 11.
A police affidavit alleges that Sanchez, smelling of alcohol, accosted Tole, who had backed his truck right into a resort’s loading docks in downtown Indianapolis on October 4. Tole claims in his lawsuit that Sanchez entered the truck with out permission, then bodily blocked and shoved Tole, who then doused Sanchez with pepper spray.
When Sanchez superior after being sprayed, Tole pulled a knife to defend himself, authorities mentioned.
Sanchez was hospitalized with stab wounds to his higher proper torso, based on a police affidavit. An image of Tole circulating on-line reveals him in a neck brace on a hospital mattress, lined in blood with a deep slash to the facet of his face.
Sanchez had a 10-year NFL profession earlier than retiring in 2019. He spent 4 seasons with the New York Jets and additionally appeared in video games with Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington.
He appeared on ABC and ESPN for 2 years earlier than becoming a member of Fox Sports as a sport analyst in 2021.