The Vegas Raiders selected on Thursday with the absolute number one pick the American quarterback with Cuban roots Fernando Mendoza in the NFL draft, after his extraordinary season, which culminated with the college soccer championship title with the Indiana Hoosiers.
Mendoza, born in Boston in 2003 and raised in Miami, was selected by the Raiders in the draft held in the vicinity of Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
From Coral Gables to number 1
The Cuban-born quarterback, a Heisman Award winner in 2025, threw for 3,535 yards.
And he led the college championship with 41 touchdown passes and only six interceptions.
Fernando Mendoza followed the NFL Draft announcement of his addition to the Raiders from his home in Coral Gables, Florida.
He was accompanied by his family members and exchanged a heartfelt hug with his parents before wearing his new team hat.
In his house there were also dozens of friends who celebrated the announcement of the first election in the large garden, where the party began.
Mendoza is the son of Fernando Mendoza Sr. and Alejandra Mendoza, members of the Cuban diaspora in South Florida.
They instilled in him the “Cuban work ethic,” in the player’s words.
Cuban inspiration and a historic challenge
However, it was his four grandparents who emigrated directly from Cuba in 1959 and who serve, according to Mendoza, as a major source of inspiration.
He will be challenged to take the Raiders to another level.
A franchise that last year won only three games out of 17 and had the worst record in the AFC, tied with the Tennessee Titans and New York Jets.
The starting quarterback during the season was Geno Smith, who played 15 games and threw for 3,025 yards.
With 19 touchdown passes and 17 interceptions in an offense that was the worst in the league in points and yards.
He threw for 3.535 yards
QuéOnnda.com
The Las Vegas franchise had been looking for a solution for its quarterback for years and bet on Mendoza as the new visible face of its sports project.
Mendoza had not yet been born the last time the Raiders won a postseason game, dating back to early 2003.
With information from EFE
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