Fox Sports Set to Hire New NFL Game Analyst Following Mark Sanchez’s Arrest

Fox Sports is ready to make some game-day moves following Mark Sanchez’s arrest.

According to The Athletic, retired NFL quarterback Drew Brees is set to return to the broadcast booth as a Fox NFL game analyst.

The former New Orleans Saints player will begin his Fox career as early as Sunday, November 16, the outlet reported.

His exact game assignment is not known just yet, but he is expected to work as an analyst the rest of the year and is signed up to call games through at least next season.

Brees, 46, is also expected to work alongside play-by-play announcer Adam Amin. (Amin’s previous partner was Sanchez, 38.)

The Athletic reported both Fox and Brees have agreed to terms and a signed contract is expected soon.  Us Weekly has reached out to Fox Sports and Brees for comment.

After retiring from the NFL in 2020, Brees found himself working for NBC Sports, where he called Notre Dame football games and was part of the Sunday Night Football studio crew. The network and Brees ultimately parted ways after one season.

If his deal with Fox is confirmed, Brees will join top analysts including Tom Brady and Greg Olsen as the NFL season heats up.

Fox’s new move comes as Sanchez has been off the air for a month after being arrested for his role in a late-night fight in Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Metro Police Department confirmed in a statement that a “physical disturbance” occurred on October 4 around 12:30 a.m. between Sanchez and another individual.

“Friday night in Indianapolis, one of our team members, Mark Sanchez, was involved in an incident that we are still trying to wrap our heads around,” Fox NFL Kickoff host Charissa Thompson said on the October 5 broadcast. “At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, and all of those involved.”

Prior to kickoff, Chris Myers also commented on the incident.

“I’m Chris Myers, along with Brady Quinn, who is stepping in for Mark Sanchez,” he said during the broadcast. “And obviously we all want to send out our thoughts and prayers to Mark and those involved in Friday’s incident, as we get ready for today’s game.”

An affidavit for probable cause, later obtained by Us, claimed that Sanchez allegedly approached a 69-year-old delivery driver at a loading dock.

The man told detectives that Sanchez appeared intoxicated. He used pepper spray to defend himself, but when Sanchez continued advancing, he pulled a knife and stabbed the athlete several times in self-defense.

Police later arrested Sanchez at the hospital for battery with injury and other charges. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his trial is expected to start in Indiana on December 11.

Sanchez played in the NFL for eight seasons, most notably taking the New York Jets to back-to-back AFC Championship Games in his first two years in the league.

Sanchez also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders before retiring from the league in 2019.