Fernando Mendoza reveals ‘very special’ phone call with Tom Brady after Raiders meeting

Fernando Mendoza did not hide his admiration for the Las Vegas Raiders when his name surfaced around the No. 1 pick. The Heisman Trophy winner knows why he is in Indianapolis this week. The Raiders are doing their homework at the NFL combine, but around league circles, the expectation is clear. Mendoza, the Indiana quarterback who lit up college football in 2025, sits firmly at the top of their board.

Las Vegas needs a face of the franchise. Mendoza fits that description. He led the Hoosiers to a perfect season and a national title, throwing 41 touchdowns against just six interceptions. His command of the field, paired with size and mobility, pushed his stock into elite territory. Now, the Silver and Black are studying not just his arm, but his mind.

Fernando Mendoza opens up on unforgettable Tom Brady conversation

The first formal meeting between Mendoza and the Raiders happened this week at the combine. Most of the front office and coaching staff were in the room. At one point, minority owner Tom Brady joined by phone. For Mendoza, that moment mattered.

“When I walked into the formal interview for the Raiders, I was able to say a brief hi to Brady, and that was very special to me, and I look forward to meeting him in person one day and learning from him.”


Later, he expanded on that admiration. "I mean, who hasn't admired Tom Brady? That opportunity would be fantastic. Tom Brady, I believe, was 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 1, I got to learn a lot. It's going to be a long journey. And to potentially have a mentor like that, it'd be pretty impressive and pretty meaningful."

The interview itself was detailed and intense. Coaches tested how quickly he could absorb concepts. They installed a play and walked him through their quarterback progression system. Mendoza noticed the similarities.

“They are very football savvy, which was great to see,” Mendoza said. “They taught me a play, and they had their whole progression of how they teach quarterbacks to play, and it was similar to how Indiana’s progression was. I am a very type A guy, and they had all the details of each play and what to do when you get a problem with each play.”

He described the conversation as “fantastic,” adding, "The coaching staff was in there. We went over some of my previous plays, drew some plays on the board."

Still, Mendoza is not assuming anything. "Well, the pick has not been selected yet," he said. "Whatever team drafts me, I'm extremely grateful. Whether it's the No. 1 pick or the last pick in the draft, I'd be blessed and honored to be drafted by any team and give them my all."

His focus remains simple. “You need to play well and that’s where all my focus goes in. Football, football, football.”

If the Raiders want leadership, discipline, and a quarterback wired to learn, they already know where to look.


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