Quarterback Fernando Mendoza famously updated his LinkedIn after leading Indiana to its first national championship in school history in January. So, from the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, it wasn鈥檛 surprising to hear him bluntly declare his job status.
鈥淩ight now, I鈥檓 unemployed,鈥� Mendoza said Friday.
鈥淭his is my job interview right now, and as everyone says, it鈥檚 the most important job interview of your life. I鈥檓 just doing everything to hopefully get employed on April 23.鈥�
All signs point toward that employment coming as Mendoza is projected to be selected No. 1 by the Las Vegas Raiders at the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Mendoza said his formal interview with the Raiders was 鈥渇antastic,鈥� and he described new head coach Klint Kubiak and his staff as 鈥渇ootball savvy.鈥�
鈥淭hey taught me a play, and they had their whole progression for how they teach their quarterbacks to play, and it was very similar to how my Indiana progression was,鈥� Mendoza said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a very Type A guy, and they had all the details of each play. What to do if you get a problem on each play, what鈥檚 dropped, what鈥檚 your progression, and that鈥檚 something that I really enjoy.鈥�
The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner said he got to say a brief 鈥渉i鈥� on the phone to Raiders minority owner Tom Brady when he walked into his interview.
鈥淲ho hasn鈥檛 admired Tom Brady?鈥� Mendoza said of being mentored by Brady. 鈥淭om Brady, I believe, is the greatest quarterback of all time by a wide margin. To be able to have the opportunity to be mentored by him would mean so much, especially to learn. I鈥檓 all about learning.
鈥淔rom Day 1, I gotta learn a lot. It鈥檚 going to be a long journey, and to have 鈥� potentially have 鈥� a mentor like that would be pretty impressive and pretty meaningful.鈥�
Mendoza, who was born in Boston and raised in Miami, spent his first three college football seasons at Cal (redshirting one) before transferring to Indiana under upstart head coach Curt Cignetti for the 2025 season. The Hoosiers went 16-0, marching their way to a national championship by outscoring playoff opponents 121-46.
Mendoza finished the season with a 72 percent completion rate, throwing for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns with just six interceptions. The once two-star recruit who ranked the 140th-best quarterback in the Class of 2022 became the hottest NFL prospect. But even more than his on-field rise, Mendoza became known for his charismatic personality off the field and well-crafted interviews more fit for a coach than a 22-year-old.
鈥淎s a leader, they鈥檙e getting the best,鈥� Indiana鈥檚 All-American linebacker Aiden Fisher said of his former teammate. 鈥淏eing around him the past year has elevated my game so much. He鈥檚 made me a better person, a better teammate, a better leader as myself. He suddenly just elevates everybody around him. He鈥檚 an unbelievable, obviously a talent, but just an amazing human being to be around. I think people gravitate towards him. I think that鈥檚 huge, and speaks volumes to who they鈥檙e getting.鈥�
Asked what makes him fit to lead an NFL franchise, Mendoza said he鈥檒l need to build equity. To do so, he said, he has two priorities. One is playing well, 鈥渢hat鈥檚 where all my focus goes: football, football, football.鈥� The other is having respect from his teammates, which Mendoza said he gains through his work ethic and the way he responds to mistakes.
Mendoza knows the challenge that awaits him in the NFL. And being the top quarterback prospect comes with the caveat of joining a team likely looking for a rebuild. The Raiders finished 3-14 last year and fired head coach Pete Carroll, but no matter which franchise selects him, Mendoza isn鈥檛 intimidated by the uphill climb that might be on the other end.
鈥淚n the NFL, the margins are so small,鈥� Mendoza said. 鈥淭here are so many games decided by so few points, and the difference between a losing record and a winning record is a couple of drives, is a couple of key plays. Whatever team I鈥檓 on, I鈥檓 just going to take that advice and take the coaching from the coaching staff, and however I can best serve my teammates on that team, I鈥檓 going to do it to the best of my ability.鈥�
Under the bright lights of draft preparation, Mendoza took a minute to look inward when asked what made him fall in love with football in the first place. You could see it all come back to him, the years of work and dedication, manifesting in this moment. But what seemed most special to him was the relationships with his teammates and the way he achieved success on a path different from many top prospects.
鈥淚f you鈥檙e not the smartest, you can still outwit your way physically. If you鈥檙e not the fastest, you can always be smart and have good instincts,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here are just so many different angles that you can be successful in, and I just love the variety in that. If you see all the NFL superstars, there鈥檚 no cookie-cutter mold you need to be.鈥�
For the next two months, Mendoza will be building his own mold, showing 鈥� and telling 鈥� teams what he can bring to the locker room. He鈥檚 embracing the process, fully leaning into the job interview that will determine his future. Just as his LinkedIn profile photo says, Mendoza is #OpenToNetwork. At least until April 23.
This article originally appeared in The Athletic.