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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza said his new team has “the largest Hispanic fan base” after taking the No. 1 overall pick 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 like no other. I think it’s probably the most Hispanic fan base and legends like Mr. [Jim] Plunkett, as Mr. [Tom] Flowers. 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 really want to connect 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, on Jan. 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 the United States.
“We all thought it was temporary,” Mendoza’s maternal grandfather, Alberto Espino, previously said. Washington Post. “There was no way the United States would allow a communist regime 90 miles away.”
But Castro’s reign 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 watches 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/Image Images)
Mendoza comes to the NFL after one of the best seasons by a quarterback in college football history for Indiana.
Now, as quarterback of the Raiders, he will be under pressure to lead one of the league’s storied franchises back to prominence after decades of underperformance.
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Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected with 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, 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 historic core franchise and one of the faces of the NFL, and I feel like, again, I need to prove that 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 be humble, try to establish myself with my work ethic and lead by example, but at the end of the day, it’s great to say these words, but I have to do it.”
