Add “great interviewer” to Fernando Mendoza’s LinkedIn.
Former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Mendoza, 22, spoke with reporters at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Friday, and the reigning Heisman Trophy winner detailed his formal interview with the Las Vegas Raiders.
“I was lucky enough to have a formal interview with the Las Vegas Raiders,” Mendoza said, according to Raiders team reporter Levi Edwards.
“It was a fantastic interview. The coaching staff was in there. We went over some of my previous plays [and] drew up some plays on the board. I thought it was a great meeting. I know they have the prospective No. 1 pick, but anything could happen in the draft, and I’m just excited for the opportunity. Whatever team drafts me, I’m going to give everything I’ve got to them.”
According to ESPN’s Laura Rutledge, Mendoza said his favorite part of the meeting was that Tom Brady was on the phone and Mendoza briefly spoke with him. “I look forward to meeting him in person soon,” Mendoza said of Brady, who is a minority owner of the Raiders.
“I mean, who hasn’t admired Tom Brady, guys?” Mendoza told reporters.
“I mean, more Super Bowl rings than anybody. That opportunity would be fantastic. Tom Brady, I believe, is the greatest quarterback of all time by a wide margin and to be able to have the opportunity to be mentored by him, it would mean so much. And especially to learn, and I’m all about learning. So from day one, I got to learn a lot. It’s going to be a long journey. And to have - potentially - have a mentor like that, it’d be pretty impressive and pretty meaningful.”
Mendoza is almost unanimously projected to go No. 1 overall to the Raiders in April’s 2026 NFL Draft. Raiders brass, including Brady, attended the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship in January and witnessed Mendoza lead Indiana to victory over Miami - cementing a perfect 16-0 season and the Hoosiers’ first-ever national championship. The next natural step in Mendoza’s Cinderella story would be to go No. 1 overall.
After two seasons at California, Mendoza transferred to Indiana ahead of the 2025 season. He soared up draft boards due to his pinpoint accuracy, athleticism, leadership, and willingness to stand in a muddied pocket and deliver difficult throws.
The Miami native put up 3,535 passing yards and an FBS-most 41 touchdowns on 72% completion. He added 276 yards and seven touchdowns as a rusher.
2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.