Tom Brady explains massive Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza card purchase

More than three years after retiring from the NFL, Tom Brady remains closely connected to the league through his role as a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. That connection was on full display at Fanatics Fest NYC 2026, where Brady revealed why he paid a premium to acquire to acquire the one-of-one rookie autographed card of Raiders No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft Fernando Mendoza.

Brady displayed the rare card during the event and explained that he had been determined to own it from the moment it was released.

“There’s a Fernando Mendoza card that came out that I sent you [Fanatics and Topps], and I said, ‘I need this,'” Brady told the crowd. “I found it, and I got it—my first NFL auto one of one.”

Brady said his decision was driven by his belief in Mendoza.

“I know how hard he works; he’s got a great family, and he’s coming to a great environment for success, so I figured I’ve got to invest in it. And you know what, the card was not easy to find. I know there’s a lot of negotiations that went back and forth for quite a bit. Ended up paying a very hefty price.”

Brady also called the purchase a “true win-win,” saying:

“It’s a true win-win, so I get the card that I want, it’s going to bring our team a lot of luck, and it’s going to hopefully launch Fernando into a great young career.”