A memorable and historic moment occurred Thursday night in the city of Pittsburgh when Cuban-American quarterback Fernando Mendoza was chosen by the Las Vegas Raiders with the first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Fernando Mendoza, 22 years old and with completely Cuban roots, received the official call from the NFL when commissioner Roger Goodell announced the decision of the Raiders, the team with the rights to the first pick in the Draft.
Born in Boston and raised in Miami, Fernando Mendoza chose not to attend the Draft, which took place next to the Pittsburgh Steelers stadium. He stayed in Miami to live the unforgettable moment with all his family and friends, as he explained.
Mendoza reacted by hugging his mother Elsa, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and who was sitting next to him, and then proceeded to put on his black Raiders cap.
“I’m just thinking about working for the next level,” Mendoza said when immediately interviewed by ESPN.and then talk about his new team. “What a great organization, it has a great legacy, there are many great colleagues that I already want to talk to; coaches, owners. I am excited for the opportunity.”
The Raiders are coming off a disastrous season in which they went 3-14, but now they have their quarterback of the future, a mature man and a polished passer who could help them start building a good foundation.
The historical achievements of Fernando Mendoza
Fernando Mendoza’s rise to stardom has been nothing short of astonishing for several months now. First led the historically weak Indiana University team to the national championship of the NCAA. That title had the additional ingredient that it was achieved in Miami, Mendoza’s home, and against the local Hurricanes.
His performance in the 2025 season, in which he ended up winning all 16 of his team’s games, earned him the Heisman Trophy, the highest individual award in college football. And now, the young man comes to the NFL through the biggest door.
Fernando Mendoza joins legends in select clubs
With his arrival in the NFL, Fernando Mendoza becomes the third Hispanic player to be chosen with the first pick in an NFL Draft after Jim Plunkett (1971, Fresh England) and Bryce Younger (2023, Carolina). Both Plunkett and Younger – both quarterbacks – have Mexican roots.
Mendoza joins exceptional quarterbacks such as Cam Newton, Jameis Winston and Joe Burrow in being chosen with the first pick in the NFL Draft in addition to having won the Heisman Trophy and won the NCAA national title.
Unlike some of the more notable quarterbacks selected with the first pick in a draft, Mendoza was not seen as an elite prospect as a high school player nor in his early years at the college level..
However, his development as a quarterback was admirable. He has a strong and precise arm, plays with great poise and knows how to take care of the ball. According to ESPN data, Mendoza recorded forty eight touchdown passes, 11 touchdown runs and only 1 turnover in his visits to the red zone as a college player.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder rose to national prominence after rising up the ranks at UC Berkeley before transferring to Indiana for the 2025 season. And now he’s a man to watch in the NFL.
Keep reading:
– Fernando Mendoza’s week after the championship: TV presentations and a bobblehead
– Raiders mourning the death of Barret Robbins, their center who suffered from bipolarity
– A Cuban shines in New York: Fernando Mendoza wins the Heisman and speaks in Spanish
