Fernando Mendoza celebrating with family after Raiders pick is most wholesome thing you'll see today originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Las Vegas Raiders have officially begun a new era, as the franchise selected quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Las Vegas has been stuck in quarterback purgatory since the departure of Derek Carr in 2023, but the team now hopes that Mendoza can provide stability to the position for the future. However, it's unlikely the Indiana product will start in Week 1 of his rookie season with Kirk Cousins on the roster.
Though Mendoza has sky-high expectations and a ton of pressure on him to perform, tonight is a time for him to celebrate all his hard work with his family.
After Mendoza was selected with the top selection by the Raiders, the 22-year-old was shown on TV celebrating with his family, and it's one of the most wholesome moments you've seen in a while.
Fernando Mendoza with the quietest celebration room ever for a number one overall pick in #NFLDraft history ππ₯ @TWDTV1pic.twitter.com/oTAIflXyWS
β Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (BlueSky too now) (@sluggahjells) April 24, 2026
Mendoza's family took the spotlight during his Heisman season at Indiana in 2025, and it's awesome to see him accomplish his dream of making it to the NFL with their loving support.
During the 2025 season, Mendoza tossed 41 touchdowns and six interceptions with seven rushing touchdowns, establishing himself as the top quarterback in the country and leading Indiana to a National title.
Now, he's heading to Las Vegas with the chance to revive a franchise that hasn't won a playoff game in nearly 25 years.