It’s no secret that Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza will be the first overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft and will soon be a member of the Raiders. It’s, in fact, the worst-kept secret in football. A visit to Las Vegas’s facilities earlier in the month all but confirmed what everyone already knew. He’s their guy.
It thus came as a bit of a surprise that, in early April, reports confirmed that Fernando Mendoza wouldn’t be in Pittsburgh on the day of the NFL Draft. At the time, sources told ESPN he just wanted to celebrate the occasion with his family in Miami, but this Monday on the “Rich Eisen Show,” the Heisman Trophy winner opened up on his reasoning.
“However, my mom really wanted to do it at home, and so did my parents. It’s a lot easier for us, especially with, you know, the family situation, and I have to hop on a plane the next morning anyway, and for that travel, it would be a lot easier to stay at home. I wanted to stay and make memories with everybody who poured into my football journey. Mentors, coaches, family, friends,” Mendoza said.
“You want to share that moment with all of them; it’s going to be the best memory that I can make, rather than limiting it to 10 or 12 people in Pittsburgh. I think it’s very important to start off this journey with everyone who has gotten me to this point,” he added.
Mendoza also highlighted that he’s sure that the event in Pittsburgh will be a unique opportunity for those attending and that he believes it will be a great opportunity for his fellow draftees. He pointed out that he wants the public to be able to share in the event, and that his family will allow ESPN total access to see his family’s draft celebration.
Again, Fernando Mendoza’s character shone through the answer, as the soon-to-be former Hoosiers quarterback seems unable to say the wrong thing in front of the cameras.
What prevents Fernando Mendoza’s mother from attending the NFL Draft?
It’s a well-known fact that Fernando Mendoza’s mother suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, which severely limits her mobility. This hasn’t stopped her from being there in her son’s biggest moments, attending Indiana’s victory in the national championship game over Miami in late January, and the Heisman Trophy ceremony in December.
However, it’s understandable, given her condition, that the family would prefer not to submit her to yet another strenuous trip, which in this case would be only a day long, as Mendoza would have to travel to Las Vegas the following day.
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