Las Vegas Raiders sign quarterback Fernando Mendoza, 2025 Heisman winner
The Raiders announced the signing of first-overall draft pick quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who led Indiana to an undefeated season and won multiple major awards in 2025.
The Las Vegas Raiders confirmed Thursday that they have signed quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the first overall pick in the recent NFL draft. Mendoza, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound player, completed his collegiate career at Indiana after three seasons at California, appearing in 36 games with 35 starts and compiling 8,247 passing yards, 71 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
In 2025, Mendoza guided the Hoosiers to a 16-0 record and a national championship, completing 273 of 379 passes (72.0%) for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and six interceptions. He earned the Heisman Trophy, the Associated Press Player of the Year, and was named to the AP All-American First Team, among other honors.
Mendoza led the Football Bowl Subdivision in passing touchdowns that season and set a school record with a 72.0% completion rate, ranking third nationally. He recorded multiple games with at least 90% completion and four touchdown passes against Power-5 opponents, and posted six games with four or more touchdown passes without an interception.
During his three years at California (2022-24), he started 19 of 20 games, throwing for 3,004 yards and 16 touchdowns with six interceptions in 2024, and earned three ACC Quarterback of the Week honors. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, he received an honorable mention for Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year after posting 1,708 yards and 14 touchdowns in nine games.