The Las Vegas Raiders’ rookie minicamp concluded in May with strong reviews, video highlights, and a standing ovation for their new quarterback inside the team facility. Yet none of it matched the instant buzz created by a short FaceTime clip released on Thursday, which went viral across NFL social media within minutes.
Fernando Mendoza, 22, was the No. 1 overall pick in April after leading Indiana to a 16-0 season, the school’s first national championship, and the program’s first Heisman Trophy. He completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns. He also grew up idolizing Tom Brady, which he had acknowledged publicly before the draft. That deep admiration made Thursday’s clip land perfectly.
Jun 3, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) warms up during organized team activities at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-Imagn Images
The clip came from Mendoza’s official pre-draft visit to the Raiders facility. During the visit, Brady joined via FaceTime and the exchange was brief, genuine, and immediately viral. Mendoza’s excitement was visible the moment Brady appeared on screen.
Mendoza’s reaction when Brady appeared was immediate. “Oh shoot! What’s up, Mr. Brady?! How are you doing?!” Mendoza said. Brady responded with a laugh and a single correction: “You can call me Tom. Mr. Brady is my dad,” Brady said. The clip ended there and it was more than enough.
Brady had already evaluated Mendoza publicly before the draft. “He’s played tremendous all season. Sixteen-and-oh, leading his team. He’s just a very mature young man. He’s got a bright future,” Brady said on The Herd in January. Brady attended Indiana’s national championship win over Miami in person, alongside majority owner Mark Davis and GM John Spytek.
Spytek described Mendoza the same way on draft night. “He’s really smart. He works really hard. This means a lot to him,” Spytek said. “It’s very little to do with all the accolades he got after they won all those games.” The FaceTime clip added a human dimension to what coaches had been saying for months about Mendoza’s demeanor.
Mendoza’s Wholesome FaceTime Moment with Tom Brady
Mendoza walked into the Raiders facility at rookie minicamp to a standing ovation from staff and coaches. He signed a four-year fully guaranteed deal worth $57.3 million on draft night. His $38.1 million signing bonus is the largest ever for an incoming NFL player. He inherited jersey No. 15, previously worn by Tom Flores, the only Latino head coach to win a Super Bowl.
Not everyone has been enthusiastic. Fox Sports host Rob Parkerpublicly predictedMendoza would fail and criticized Brady’s ownership role, telling listeners not to bother watching the Raiders in 2026. The reaction from NFL fans online was immediate, with most defending Mendoza and dismissing Parker’s assessment as premature.
Head coach Klint Kubiak has said his preferred plan is to bring Mendoza into the starting role gradually rather than forcing an immediate Week 1 start. Kirk Cousins signed a deal worth up to $172 million as a bridge option. CBS Sports noted that Mendoza’s cerebral approach draws the same comparisons to Brady that Raiders personnel have made privately, from preparation habits to the way he processes pre-snap information.
Las Vegas went 3-14 last season and fired Pete Carroll as head coach. The FaceTime clip circulating this week is one small detail inside a larger rebuild. It also happened to be the most-watched piece of Raiders content since the draft. Mendoza and Brady will share a facility for the foreseeable future. Based on Thursday’s clip, neither seems uncomfortable with that arrangement.
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