{"id":240138,"date":"2026-04-24T16:53:48","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T16:53:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/that-kind-of-broke-me-fernando-mendoza-reveals-message-from-his-mother-elsa-crushed-him-after-getting-drafted-by-raiders\/"},"modified":"2026-04-24T16:53:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T16:53:48","slug":"that-kind-of-broke-me-fernando-mendoza-reveals-message-from-his-mother-elsa-crushed-him-after-getting-drafted-by-raiders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/24\/that-kind-of-broke-me-fernando-mendoza-reveals-message-from-his-mother-elsa-crushed-him-after-getting-drafted-by-raiders\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;That kind of broke me&#8221;: Fernando Mendoza reveals message from his mother Elsa crushed him after getting drafted by Raiders"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"5158573\" data-slug-id=\"2772700\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<img data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/cmc-predictor\/v2\/cross-icon.png?w=40\" width=\"20\" height=\"20\" alt=\"close\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Moments later, celebrations started at his home in Florida, where an emotional exchange with his mother left the former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback in tears.<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"template__newsletter-inline-banner-form-combo-widget\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<p><img id=\"subscribe-img\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\nThanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cHeard my mom say, \u2018I\u2019m so proud of you,\u2019 and that kind of broke me there,\u201d Mendoza revealed, via Zoom.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><template id=\"bets-today-poll\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"preview-card-holder bets-today-poll\">\n<p><span class=\"date\"\/> \u2022 <span class=\"time\"\/><\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>Mendoza\u2019s 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\u2019s first national title, earning the Heisman Trophy along the way.<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"bottom-tagline top\" data-tab=\"top\">\n<p>Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/nfl-playoff-predictor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\" class=\"bottom_tagline_link\" data-tab=\"top\">NFL Playoff Predictor<\/a> for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Now selected No. 1 overall by the Raiders, Mendoza is set to become the next face of the franchise, with his mother\u2019s emotional reaction revealing the significance of his journey.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/college-football\/fernando-mendoza\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Fernando Mendoza<\/a> is now preparing to begin the next chapter of his career as he transitions to the NFL.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cCollege was fantastic. I\u2019m so blessed to have that career,\u201d Mendoza said on Thursday. \u201cBut now I step into a great game in the NFL. I look forward to proving and earning it every single day.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>While Mendoza is seen as the Raiders\u2019 quarterback of the future, the team added veteran competition earlier this month by signing Kirk Cousins, who brings experience and leadership at age 38.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>Tom Brady shares a message for Fernando Mendoza after  the Raiders took him No. 1<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/las-vegas-raiders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> are hoping they have finally solved their long-running search for a franchise quarterback after selecting Fernando Mendoza on Thursday night.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cCongratulations to all the rookies who are joining the NFL this weekend,\u201d Brady wrote. \u201cI hope you can appreciate this special moment\u2026 you\u2019ve earned it through hard work, discipline, and determination. You\u2019ve made your family proud, along with everyone else on your journey that has supported you.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cBut 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\u2019ll need to take everything you do to the next level in order to compete with the world\u2019s best. Welcome to Las Vegas @fernandomendoza. Time to get to work.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>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\u2019s early development with the team.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\" title=\"like article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\" title=\"dislike article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tag-cloud\">\n<div class=\"tags-text\">\n<div class=\"scrollable-content-holder  article-padding\">\n<p class=\"article-p  \">Quick Links<\/p>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerLeft\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Left \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img style=\"background: none;\" data-lazy=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-left.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button><\/p>\n<nav id=\"pnProductNav\" class=\"pn-ProductNav\">\n<\/nav>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerRight\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Right \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img style=\"background: none;\" data-lazy=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-right.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<p>More from Sportskeeda<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by nagpaltusharn25<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/nfl\/news-that-kind-broke-me-fernando-mendoza-reveals-message-mother-elsa-crushed-getting-drafted-raiders\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":240139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6806],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-240138","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gossip"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240138","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=240138"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/240138\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/240139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=240138"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=240138"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=240138"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}