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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza claimed his new team has the “most Hispanic fan base” after he was taken No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft. Mendoza made the statement during his introductory press conference for the team 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, like Mr. [Tom] Flores. I mean, all the legendary Latin American idols 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 it and I’m really looking forward to connecting with the Hispanic community here,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza himself is Cuban, 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 and came to America.
“We all thought it was temporary,” Mendoza’s maternal grandfather, Alberto Espino, said earlier. Washington Post. “There was no way the United States was going to 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 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 enters the NFL after one of the best seasons by a quarterback in college football history for Indiana.
Now, as quarterback for the Raiders, he will be under pressure to return one of the league’s storied franchises to prominence after decades of underperformance.
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Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected 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 huge honor to honor the legacy. The Raiders are a historic core franchise and one of the faces of the NFL, and I feel like I have to prove it and earn it every single day,” Mendoza said.
“Especially as a rookie, nothing is given and my belief is that everything is earned. So I’m going to come in humble, try to establish myself with my work ethic and lead by example, but at the end of the day, it’s all great to say these words, but I have to do it.”
