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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza claimed his new team has “the most Hispanic fan base” after going No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. Mendoza made the statement during his team introductory press conference on Friday.
“The history of the Raiders, especially the Hispanic history, is unlike any other. I think it’s probably the most Hispanic fan base and legends like Mr. [Jim] Plunkett, like Mr. [Tom] Flores. I mean, all those legendary Hispanic idols and cornerstones of the franchise. It means a lot as a Cuban-American to come to this franchise and help carry the torch. But again, I have to prove it, and I’m really 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, Florida, January 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
After Fidel Castro took control of Cuba and installed a communist regime, Mendoza’s four grandparents fled the country and came to America.
“We all thought it was temporary,” Mendoza’s maternal grandfather, Alberto Espino, said previously. The Washington Post. “There was no way the United States would allow a communist regime to be 90 miles away.”
But Castro’s rule endured, so Espino and the Mendozas remained in the United States 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 January 19, 2026. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)
Mendoza comes to the NFL after one of the best quarterback seasons in college football history for Indiana.
Now, as the Raiders’ quarterback, he will be under pressure to bring one of the league’s historic franchises back to prominence after decades of underachievement.
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Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected as the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, speaks during a news conference at Raiders headquarters in Henderson, Nevada, April 24, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“It’s a huge responsibility, but it’s also a huge honor to honor this legacy. The Raiders are a vital historic franchise and one of the faces of the NFL, and I feel like, once again, I have to prove it and earn it every day,” Mendoza said.
“Especially as a rookie, nothing is given and I believe everything is earned. So, I’m going to come in humbly, try to impose myself with my work ethic and lead by example, but at the end of the day, it’s okay to say these words, but I have to do it.”
