More than just a quarterback, theLas Vegas Raiders pickedFernando Mendoza, No. 1 overall. The team drafted a player whose legacy existed long before any Heisman Trophy, national championship, or draft-day hype. While playing for theIndiana Hoosiers, Mendoza built his legacy through relentless preparation
Teammates saw it daily. Coaches lived it firsthand, and now, as the rookie battles veteran Kirk Cousins for snaps in the Raiders, one voice from his past believes the Raiders landed a franchise-changing leader.
Curt Cignetti Says Fernando Mendoza’s Preparation Sets Him Apart
May 20, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) stretches during organized team activities at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
On the Rich Eisen show on June 18, Hoosiers HC Curt Cignetti made a very strong statement about the dedication of his former QB. The experienced coach, who’s been playing football for 45 years, confessed that he’s never seen anyone prepare as hard as Mendoza.
“He is committed to being great. Tom Brady is his idol. I’ve never been around a guy who prepares like he does. He covered every base and then some.”
“He [Fernando Mendoza] is committed to being great. Tom Brady is his idol. I’ve never been around a guy who prepares like he does. He covered every base and then some.”
Indiana Hoosiers head coach Curt Cignetti on Raiders rookie QB Fernando Mendoza.
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Cignetti explained that Mendoza’s attention to detail became the foundation of Indiana’s historic 16-0 campaign and College Football Playoff national championship run in 2025.
The coach told Rich Eisen that Mendoza’s preparation never stopped. Film study was not just an assignment but was part of his identity.
“The level of detail and preparation, and how it never ends. The way he played, and the toughness he displayed, really pulled that team together, and he was a great team guy.” (ViaMARCA)
That mentality mirrors that of Mendoza’s longtime idol, Tom Brady, who’s now also a minority owner of the Raiders. Mendoza has openly acknowledged that he does not rely solely on physical gifts. Except that he creates an edge through preparation and football IQ. Cignetti once joked that if a day had 25 hours, Mendoza would spend all 25 studying tape.
The facts will do the talking. Mendoza originally joined the University of California as a college student but moved to play for the Hoosiers before the 2025 season. Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy, helping the Hoosiers win 27-21 against the Miami Hurricanes in the national championship match. The defining highlight of Mendoza’s playing came on a fourth-and-5 quarterback keeper in the national championship match, where he bulldozed his way through for a score-saving touchdown.
Now, the Raiders are counting on these traits of Mendoza to stop the endless cycle of the quarterback carousel, according to Cignetti.