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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza said his new team has “a lot of Hispanic fans” after going No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. Mendoza made this statement during his speech to the media on Friday.
“The history of the Raiders, especially the Hispanic history, is unlike any other. I believe that maybe the Hispanic fan base and legends like Mr. [Jim] Plunkett, as Mr. [Tom] Flowers. I mean, all those famous Hispanic icons and cornerstones of the franchise. It means a lot as a Cuban American to come to this franchise and help try to carry the torch. But again, I have to prove that, and I'm looking forward to connecting with the Hispanic community here,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza himself is Cuban, as a descendant of Cuban refugees.
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Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza passes against Miami during the first half of the College Football Playoff national championship game in Miami Gardens, Fla., on Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
After Fidel Castro took control of Cuba and installed a communist regime, all four of Mendoza's grandparents fled the country for America.
“We all thought it was temporary,” Mendoza's maternal grandfather, Alberto Espino, said earlier. The Washington Post. “There was no way the United States could allow a Communist regime within 90 miles.”
But Castro's rule endured, so Espino and the Mendozas stayed in the US and built their lives as Americans.
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Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza looks on during warmups before the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Jan. 19, 2026. (Photos by Sam Navarro/Imagn)
Mendoza will enter the NFL after one of the best seasons by a quarterback in Indiana college football history.
Now, as the Raiders quarterback, he will be under the pressure of leading one of the franchises in league history back to prominence after decades of underperformance.
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Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who was selected as the No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, speaks during a news conference at Raiders Headquarters in Henderson, Nev., on April 24, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“It's a big responsibility, but it's also a big honor to honor the legacy. The Raiders are a franchise that is the foundation of history and one of the faces of the NFL, and I feel like, again, I need to prove and win every single day,” said Mendoza.
“Especially as a rookie, nothing is given, and my belief is that everything is earned. Therefore, I will come with humility, try to show myself with my work ethic and lead by example, but at the end of the day, it's all good to say these words, but I have to do it.”
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