The Las Vegas Raiders hope they have found their long-term quarterback. Fernando Mendoza arrived as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and the attention around him has only grown since draft night.
When a five-time Pro Bowl defender publicly says he is fired up about you and wants to take you under his wing, the football world notices. Crosby has been texting Mendoza since draft night and has made it clear he plans to guide the young quarterback every step of the way. This is a mentorship story as much as it is a football story, and it is just getting started.
From Bloomington to Las Vegas
Fernando Mendoza’s path to the NFL is one for the storybooks. The 22-year-old Miami native transferred to Indiana from California after the 2024 season and immediately rewrote the Hoosiers’ record books. He led Indiana to a perfect 16-0 season, its first-ever national championship, and became the program’s first-ever Heisman Trophy winner.
Before Indiana, Mendoza spent three seasons at Cal, where he developed into a reliable starter. His move to Bloomington became one of the most impactful transfers of the 2025 college football season. Very few players have changed a program’s fortunes so dramatically in just a single season.
A Heisman season for the ages
Mendoza’s 2025 college campaign was nothing short of historic. He completed 72 percent of his passes for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns against just six interceptions, earning him the Heisman Trophy, the Walter Camp Award, the Maxwell Award, and the Davey O’Brien Award all in one season.
His efficiency was jaw-dropping by any standard. He entered the national title game with a national-best 187.96 passing efficiency rating, but his final full-season passing efficiency was 182.9. Mendoza was one of the nation’s most efficient quarterbacks, though NFL scouting reports still noted areas to improve.
The No. 1 pick who stayed home
On draft night, Mendoza made a choice that said everything about who he is as a person. While the football world gathered in Pittsburgh for the 2026 NFL Draft, Mendoza chose to stay home in Miami with his family, skipping the big stage in favor of the people who supported him most throughout his journey.
It was a quiet, powerful statement. He later said he wanted to share the moment with everyone who poured into his football journey. General Manager John Spytek and the Raiders’ coaching staff loved the intangibles of Heisman-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza, pointing to his authentic personality, team-first mentality, and tough work ethic as the traits that made him the obvious choice for the No. 1 overall pick.
Maxx Crosby steps up as mentor
Almost immediately after the draft, Maxx Crosby made his feelings about his new teammate crystal clear. On his podcast The Rush with Maxx Crosby, the Raiders’ star edge rusher said he was “fired up” about the pick and revealed he had already gotten on FaceTime with Mendoza on draft night. He also mentioned they had been texting back and forth ever since.
Crosby said he wanted to take Mendoza under his wing and help him find his footing in the NFL. For a young quarterback stepping into a locker room for the first time, having a five-time Pro Bowler offer that kind of personal investment is a massive advantage. It signals a locker-room culture ready to rally around their new signal-caller.
“Just Be Yourself,” Crosby’s core message
The advice Crosby gave Mendoza was straightforward but deeply meaningful. He told the rookie not to let the transition to the NFL feel intimidating and to simply be himself. Crosby expanded on that message with reporters, saying Mendoza has impressed him by being humble, asking questions, and absorbing everything around him like a sponge.
Crosby has also pushed back against the tendency to compare Mendoza to other quarterbacks. He told reporters that people need to let Fernando be Fernando and stop trying to box him into someone else’s mold. That kind of public defense from a team leader tells you a lot about how Mendoza is already being perceived inside the organization.
Little-known fact: Mendoza is the fifth Heisman Trophy winner ever drafted by the Raiders organization, joining legends Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, Tim Brown, and Charles Woodson.
Tom Brady’s shadow and a star-studded organization
Adding another layer of excitement to Mendoza’s situation is the presence of Tom Brady as a minority owner of the Raiders. Crosby has spoken warmly about Brady’s impact on the organization, and the connection runs deep for Mendoza, too. Growing up, Mendoza idolized Tom Brady, crediting the seven-time Super Bowl champion for inspiring his relentless work ethic and preparation habits.
Now Mendoza gets to play for an organization where his childhood hero has a personal stake. Crosby called Brady’s presence a real positive for everyone involved. That mentorship ecosystem, from a veteran pass rusher to a legendary owner, sets Mendoza up for one of the most supported rookie seasons in recent Raiders history.
Little-known fact: Mendoza finished first in all six regions of the 2025 Heisman Trophy balloting, the first player to accomplish that feat since Caleb Williams in 2022.
What the hype means for the Raiders’ future
The Raiders finished the 2025 season with just a 3-14 record, a painful stretch that made the No. 1 draft pick feel like a lifeline. Mendoza’s arrival represents a total reset for a franchise that has been searching for a long-term answer at quarterback for years. The foundation being built around him, both on the field and in the locker room, looks genuinely promising.
Crosby himself was almost not part of this story. He had requested a trade after 2025 and was briefly headed to the Baltimore Ravens before that deal fell through. His decision to stay and embrace Mendoza’s arrival has transformed the narrative entirely. A rebuilt Raiders squad with Crosby anchoring the defense and Mendoza leading the offense is a compelling vision for what’s ahead.
TL;DR
- Fernando Mendoza won the 2025 Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to a perfect 16-0 national championship season.
- He completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns with just 6 interceptions in 2025.
- The Las Vegas Raiders selected Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Maxx Crosby publicly embraced Mendoza on his podcast and in press interviews, calling himself “fired up” about the pick.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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