Fernando Mendoza is Avoiding the Las Vegas Strip

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Tyler Bischoff | Last updated Aug 13, 2026 12:56 PM ET

Leading Indiana to a national championship and winning the Heisman Trophy was enough to plant Fernando Mendoza at the top of the 2026 NFL Draft. His humble personality might be the key to taking the Raiders to greater success in Las Vegas.

Mendoza talked with Michael Silver of The Athletic and revealed that he is avoiding the alluring landmark.

“I’ve been there once or twice, but I haven’t really experienced the Strip,” Mendoza said to The Athletic. “It’s like a boogeyman. A lot of people talk about the Strip like, ‘You don’t want to go there.’ It’s like when you’re a kid; you’re trick-or-treating, and there’s the haunted house. You’re not trying to go over there.”

Mendoza said he has gone to dinners or movies with teammates, but is otherwise content living at the team hotel and taking advantage of the three meals players are served at the Raiders practice facility.

There might not be a more perfect match for the Raiders.

Struggles in Sin City

Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis walks the sidelines prior to a game.Mark J&period; Rebilas-Imagn Images

Since moving to Las Vegas, the Raiders have failed to produce competent football teams. With one playoff appearance and a 39-62 record, the move to Nevada has not helped the organization win.

Throughout that time, the Raiders have had constant turnover. Klint Kubiak will be the sixth different head coach in seven seasons since the move to Las Vegas. If Mendoza or Kirk Cousins starts Week 1, it will be the 10th different starting quarterback in that same time frame.

The Raiders have had no consistency in critical roles. Kubiak is looking to be the man who ends the run of head coach turnover. Eventually, Mendoza will try to stop the carousel of quarterbacks.

Part of the reason for the never-ending change was never-ending failure. At no point did the Raiders part ways with a head coach or quarterback that was actually winning on the field. The same will be true for Kubiak and Mendoza. If they fail, they will be gone. Though, presumably owner Mark Davis will give them more than two years to figure it out.

Mendoza is all football

Jun 9, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) throws the ball during minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

One reason to hope Mendoza will be different, aside from his on-field play, is his list of priorities. He doesn’t have many outside of football.

“I’m living in the hotel right now, with a lot of the rookies,” Mendoza told The Athletic. “I have a house, but it’s not even furnished or anything. There’s like one little couch. I’m just like a 22-year-old guy living by myself. I don’t really need much.”

Gaining insight from Cousins and Tom Brady has given Mendoza perspective on how much free time he has.

“I also don’t have a lot of responsibility,” Mendoza said. “It obviously changes. Talking to Kirk, and then also talking to Tom Brady, when you have kids and get married, it’s different. These years of your life, you can be more committed to the game.”

While taking relationship advice from Brady might not be ideal, Mendoza realizes he can focus on football more than most. The Raiders hope that will help propel their franchise out of the basement of the NFL.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: