On Thursday night, Fernando Mendoza received the call he had been waiting for, as the Las Vegas Raiders informed him that he would be selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Moments later, celebrations started at his home in Florida, where an emotional exchange with his mother left the former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback in tears.
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“Heard my mom say, ‘I’m so proud of you,’ and that kind of broke me there,” Mendoza revealed, via Zoom.
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Mendoza’s path to becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft shows a remarkable rise. He began at California in 2022 as a two-star recruit, redshirting his freshman year before eventually transferring to the Indiana Hoosiers ahead of the 2025 season. There, he led Indiana to a historic 16-0 season and the program’s first national title, earning the Heisman Trophy along the way.
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Now selected No. 1 overall by the Raiders, Mendoza is set to become the next face of the franchise, with his mother’s emotional reaction revealing the significance of his journey.
Fernando Mendoza is now preparing to begin the next chapter of his career as he transitions to the NFL.
“College was fantastic. I’m so blessed to have that career,” Mendoza said on Thursday. “But now I step into a great game in the NFL. I look forward to proving and earning it every single day.”
While Mendoza is seen as the Raiders’ quarterback of the future, the team added veteran competition earlier this month by signing Kirk Cousins, who brings experience and leadership at age 38.
Tom Brady shares a message for Fernando Mendoza after the Raiders took him No. 1
The Las Vegas Raiders are hoping they have finally solved their long-running search for a franchise quarterback after selecting Fernando Mendoza on Thursday night.
As a minority owner of the team, Tom Brady played a notable role in the build-up to the pick. Following the first round of the 2026 NFL draft, Brady posted a message on X congratulating all first-round selections, including a direct note to Mendoza.
“Congratulations to all the rookies who are joining the NFL this weekend,” Brady wrote. “I hope you can appreciate this special moment… you’ve earned it through hard work, discipline, and determination. You’ve made your family proud, along with everyone else on your journey that has supported you.
“But this is just the beginning. When you wake up tomorrow morning, just know that your career will be defined by what happens going forward. You’ll need to take everything you do to the next level in order to compete with the world’s best. Welcome to Las Vegas @fernandomendoza. Time to get to work.”
Fernando Mendoza has long expressed admiration for Tom Brady, so that means their connection in Las Vegas is even more notable. With Brady now involved in the organization, he is expected to have a meaningful influence on Mendoza’s early development with the team.
Edited by nagpaltusharn25