Fernando Mendoza Biography

Fernando Gabriel Mendoza V, born October 1, 2003, is an American professional football quarterback who has played for the Las Vegas Raiders in the National Football League. Mendoza competed for the California Golden Bears for three seasons before transferring to the Indiana Hoosiers in 2025, where he earned the Heisman Trophy and helped secure a national championship. He was selected first overall in the 2026 NFL draft by the Las Vegas Raiders. As a high school quarterback, Mendoza completed 133 of 203 pass attempts for 1,396 yards and 16 touchdowns, while also rushing for 137 yards and a touchdown. Mendoza initially committed to Yale University before changing his decision to join the University of California, Berkeley. After a verbal commitment to California was made by Justyn Martin, Mendoza signed with the University of California, Berkeley. He secured the starting quarterback role for the 2024 season, defeating graduate transfer Chandler Rogers in the competition.