Fernando Mendoza has made it official: he is entering the NFL Draft. This announcement comes on the heels of his recent triumph in the national championship and has positioned him as a frontrunner for the No. 1 overall pick.
The Indiana quarterback announced his decision with a video posted to LinkedIn (of course!), alongside the caption: ‘Let’s get to work. I’m humbled to announce that I am officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft’.
The Las Vegas team currently holds the coveted top pick, unless a last-minute decision is made to trade down. Meanwhile, the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, sitting at the second and third spots respectively, are also in dire need of a quarterback to bolster their ranks.
Mendoza’s announcement kicked off with a highlight reel that featured his now-iconic interview following the Big 10 title victory. In the interview, he jubilantly declared, “Now the Hoosiers are the flippin’ champs,” capturing the exuberance of the moment.
Reflecting on his journey, Mendoza shared, “Coming to Indiana was a leap of faith… a leap that led me to going 16-0 with my boys and a national championship, and has now led me here: the moment where I get to dream bigger.”
Expressing gratitude, Mendoza thanked his family, teammates, coaches, and God. He also injected a bit of humor, playing on his polished image with a quip about his social media presence.
National champion and Heisman trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is heading to the NFL Draft
Mendoza announced his intentions to declare for the draft in a video on his LinkedIn profile
Ending his video on a light-hearted note, he stated, “My LinkedIn status is now ‘Open to Work’ and I am officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft,” signaling the start of his highly anticipated professional career.
Earlier in the year, the 22-year-old had revealed that the only social media site he looks at throughout the season is LinkedIn, refusing to get drawn in to the mind-numbing scrolling and instead focusing on watching tape and preparing for games.
He regularly posts on the site, where his bio reads: ‘Process-driven and detail-oriented leader studying Business Administration at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business after graduating from UC Berkeley in three years.’
He has even changed his profile picture to include the ‘#OpenToWork’ tag that regular LinkedIn users apply when looking for a new job opening.
His national championship-winning season appears likely to land him the No 1 overall draft pick, which would currently see him head to Las Vegas – who are still on the hunt for a new head coach after firing Pete Carroll.
Mendoza lifts the trophy after helping Indiana to beat Miami and win the national championship
Tom Brady was in the building at Hard Rock to watch his potential No 1 pick play for Indiana
Mendoza even changed his profile picture to include the #OpenToWork LinkedIn branding
The team, in part owned by Tom Brady, has been linked with Sean McDermott in the days after his firing by the Buffalo Bills.
Other candidates include Klint Kubiak, Mike LaFleur and Davis Webb – all of whom would be offensive hires with a view to helping Mendoza settle into the NFL.
During his 16-0 season with the Hoosiers, Mendoza also won the Heisman Trophy on the way to cementing his place as the projected No 1 overall pick.
Brady – as well as President Donald Trump – were in the building to watch Indiana’s win over Miami in the national championship on Monday night.
And in the aftermath of the celebrations, Mendoza unleashed another viral and spirited postgame interview – the last of his college career.
President Donald Trump also watched Mendoza and the Hoosiers win the national title in Miami
Mendoza is very family-orientated and raises money for the National MS Society, as his mom continues to battle multiple sclerosis
‘That’s one thing about our team,’ Mendoza told ESPN’s Holly Rowe after the game. ‘We’re always going to put it all on the line. I want to give all the glory and thanks to God.
‘My offensive linemen blocked perfectly and we were able to execute as a team toward a common goal. Have the Indiana Hoosier synergy to score and to give our team a chance to win the game.
‘I had to go airborne. I’d die for my team. Whatever they need me to do. They need me to take shots in the front or the back, whatever it is, I’m gonna die for my team out there and I know they’re going to do the same for me.
‘That’s what makes us so close. That’s what makes the national championship so special.’
