The man who stabbed Mark Sanchez in alleged self-defense during an altercation in Indianapolis over the weekend suffered some significant injuries of his own, and one of them has impacted his ability to speak.
Sanchez is facing multiple charges (including at least one felony that carries a prison sentence) after police say he attacked 69-year-old truck driver Perry Tole early Saturday morning in Indianapolis, Ind. Tole feared for his life and stabbed Sanchez, who then left the scene.
Both Sanchez and Tole were taken to local hospitals. Sanchez was treated for stab wounds to his torso. Tole also suffered multiple injuries, the worst of which appeared to be a large laceration to the left side of his face.
Tole has filed a lawsuit against Sanchez alleging that he has significant injuries to his head, jaw and neck. The lawsuit says some of the damage could be permanent. Tole’s attorneys, Erik May and Eddie Reichert, told TMZ on Monday that Tole has had difficulty communicating because of the large wound on his face.
“We’re gonna figure out the extent of his injuries. He can speak right now, but it’s just so slurred and so labored for him just because of all the trauma to his mouth and cheek,” May said. “Certainly, the physical injuries are self-evident. The scarring is self-evident. The psychology injuries of having to go through something like that and live with it, that’s gonna be something we’ll have to wait and see. I think it’s too early to tell what his long-term prognosis is gonna be, but we’re hopeful.”
Mark Sanchez's alleged victim's lawyers talk about the severity of the 69-year-old's injuries. pic.twitter.com/HHxkPsrZgD
— TMZ (@TMZ) October 7, 2025
On Sunday, Angela Ganote of FOX59 in Indiana shared some photos that showed Tole lying in a hospital bed. The photos, which are graphic, show a large laceration on Tole’s left cheek. You can see the images here.
It is unclear exactly how Tole suffered the laceration, but his family told FOX59 that he was cut through his cheek during the altercation with Sanchez.
Police gathered video evidence and witness testimony that they believe proves Sanchez was the aggressor. Tole said he believed he was in “a life-or-death situation,” which is why he pulled out a knife and stabbed Sanchez. A video that surfaced on Monday shows Sanchez stumbling down a sidewalk in Indianapolis with a blood-soaked shirt.
Authorities have said the investigation remains ongoing and that more charges could be filed.
Sanchez, a former NFL and USC star quarterback, works as a game analyst for FOX. He was in Indianapolis for the Week 5 game between the Colts and Las Vegas Raiders but was replaced by fellow former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn for the broadcast.
