When Mark Sanchez was hospitalized, and subsequently arrested, after an alleged altercation in Indianapolis on Saturday, October 4, Fox Sports suddenly needed a new analyst for their Las Vegas Raiders–Indianapolis Colts broadcast.
In Sanchez’s place, the network turned to former NFL quarterback Brady Quinn.
Quinn, 40, was in Ann Arbor, Michigan, preparing for Big Noon Kickoff, FOX Sports’ college football pregame show, when the call came in.
According to Sports Illustrated, Quinn, 40, was notified at 9:55 a.m. ET, just five minutes before Big Noon Kickoff went on air, that Fox wanted him to replace Sanchez in Indianapolis the next day.
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“It’s been a whirlwind to say the least, not much sleep and mixed emotions,” Quinn told Sports Illustrated via text message. “Obviously concerned for Mark’s health and the well-being of all those involved, but at the same time excited for the opportunity to call a game.”
He continued, “However, it’s not ideal. I pride myself on preparation, and there’s not enough time to prepare in the manner I am accustomed to. I’m very appreciative of all the folks behind the scenes at Fox and coaches on both teams who went out of their way to help.”
Quinn, who serves as a college football analyst for Fox and is a mainstay on Big Noon Kickoff, quickly rearranged his weekend. Instead of flying straight from Michigan to Indianapolis, he decided to drive home to Columbus, Ohio, to grab a suit and spend the night reviewing game film.
Per Sports Illustrated, Quinn left Ann Arbor on Saturday afternoon using his Sprinter van and the car service Jeevz, allowing him to hold Zoom meetings and review footage during the drive. He arrived in Columbus around 7 p.m., where he continued to study tape until 11 p.m. and spoke with Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen along with several assistants he already knew from around the league.
After getting just a few hours of sleep, Quinn woke up early Sunday morning and made the three-hour drive to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. By 9 a.m., he was on-site preparing to call the game with play-by-play announcer Chris Myers.
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In addition to Sanchez’s sudden absence, the broadcast crew wasn’t scheduled to have a sideline reporter.
“So it was just Chris and me talking ball for three hours, which I love,” Quinn said. “Hopefully, the fan bases enjoyed the call. You can never make everyone happy, especially in lopsided outcomes, but given the circumstances, I thought everyone did very well.”
The experience carried a strange sense of deja vu for Quinn. In 2013, he signed with the New York Jets to back up quarterback Geno Smith after Sanchez was injured in the preseason. 12 years later, he was replacing Sanchez again, this time in the broadcast booth.
Fox has not yet announced whether Quinn will continue calling NFL games or if another replacement will step in as Sanchez recovers and faces legal proceedings stemming from the Indianapolis incident.
