Tom Brady has one clear challenge for Raiders' Fernando Mendoza

Tom Brady. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Tom Brady has one clear challenge for Raiders' Fernando Mendoza

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated Jul 17, 2026 11:23 AM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders won a grand total of three games last season.

It's been a while since they had some stability at the quarterback position, and they're hoping Fernando Mendoza can bring that at some point in the near future.

Unlike most rookie quarterbacks, Mendoza can have the best mentor any young signal-caller could ask for. Tom Brady is one of the Raiders' minority owners, and they've already stayed in touch to work on his game.

However, that doesn't mean Brady will just anoint him as the franchise's savior. When asked about the No. 1 pick, the seven-time Super Bowl champion had one simple message/challenge: You have to earn it.

Tom Brady wants Fernando Mendoza to earn his stripes

“I love Fernando, but Fernando is like every other young rookie. He's got to go out there and earn it like everybody else,” Brady said on Fox Business (h/t SleeperRaiders).

"I love Fernando, but Fernando is like every other young rookie. He's got to go out there and earn it like everybody else."

Tom Brady on #Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza

(via @FoxBusiness) pic.twitter.com/OHFVf54inh
— SleeperRaiders (@SleeperRaiders) July 16, 2026

The Raiders will open the season on Sept. 13 vs. the Miami Dolphins, though it's highly unlikely that Mendoza will play in that game.

The rookie out of Indiana still has to get used to an NFL-style offense, with Kirk Cousins set to take the reins of the team for the start of the season.

Even so, expectations will be higher than ever for the defending Heisman trophy winner.

He's coming off passing for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns and just six picks with 276 rushing yards and seven scores on the ground.

Still, as Brady proved when he took over the New England Patriots' starting job as a Day 3 rookie, none of that matters now. It's all about earning that spot every single day in practice.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

More must-reads: