On Thursday, April 23, over 320,000 people were in attendance near the Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to witness the 2026 National Football League (NFL) Draft. With all eyes on Fernando Mendoza, it’s no surprise that he was the number one draft pick, landing him as the Las Vegas Raiders newest quarterback.
What’s the first thing he did after taking a moment to celebrate with his family? Post on his LinkedIn.
Known for his professionalism off-field and efficiency with the ball, Mendoza has garnered countless support over the last few months following his time as quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers.
At 6 feet 5 inches and only 22-years-old, Florida native Mendoza has already made big strides in his football career. After transferring from University of California, Berkeley for his junior year, he would land at Indiana University in hopes of finding better coaching stability and the opportunity to play with his younger brother, Alberto.
In 2025, he would help lead his new team through an undefeated season, 16-0, and ultimately a national championship—earning him a Heisman Trophy and the attention of NFL scouts and draft analysts.
With a 68.6% completion rate, 71 touchdowns and 8,247 passing yards throughout his three years in college football, Mendoza cemented himself as both reliable and productive on-field.
But originally, nobody really saw him as a future Heisman contender.
Mendoza had been ranked a two-star prospect out of high-school, originally choosing Yale University, graduating with a 4.86 GPA, before decommitting and signing with Berkley.
He would redshirt his freshman year, saving him an extra year of eligibility but allowing him to continue practicing with the team. Upon his actual return to the field, he became the starting quarterback, maintaining the position until transferring.
Coaching was often rocky, though, working with three different offensive coordinators throughout his three seasons—which would have been four if he had stayed.
His personality off-field would be just as compelling as his come up, furthering him towards becoming the number one NFL draft pick.
Unlike most student-athletes, Mendoza’s most active social media account appears to be his LinkedIn, boasting countless business and finance related updates and reflecting his interests outside of the sport. Even when he would post about football, Mendoza would apply a professional, business-like tone when referring to his achievements.
“Monday night, my teammates and I had the honor of raising the National Championship trophy and bringing a CFB title back to Bloomington, Indiana, for the first time in history,” Mendoza posted on his LinkedIn. “With the guidance of our coaches and the unwavering support of Hoosier Nation, our band of brothers made the unbelievable believable.”
This carefully crafted language continued on camera, with many even describing him as a ‘PR dream’ across social media.
On Jan. 23, Mendoza announced through an Instagram post that he would be entering the 2026 NFL Draft.
Shortly after, rumors began circulating that the Raiders would target him with their first-round pick after a 3-14 season. This would be fueled through further rumors that minority owner of the Raiders, Tom Brady, was in contact with Mendoza—allegedly pledging to mentor the athlete during a pre-draft meeting.
Following his draft to the Raiders, Mendoza appears to be excited for his future—as noted on his LinkedIn, which he updated in a commercial for the company.
“It’s official. Grateful for the opportunity and ready to get to work! 🏈🙏.”
