What’s in a number? For people in Boston, Massachusetts, that was the biggest story when Tom Brady dressed up for the New England Patriots and turned it into an NFL dynasty for two decades. Among them was a little Fernando Mendoza, always believing he would grow up and be a quarterback like him. Fast forward over a decade, and Mendoza scripted a similar story.

The lesser-known quarterback took the Indiana Hoosiers to their first National Championship and turned the team’s image. Call it fate that he landed in Las Vegas, where his idol is a minority owner. But while many fans would want Mendoza to follow Brady’s path, three former Raiders and Heisman winners – Marcus Allen, Tim Brown, and Charles Woodson – disagree, all for one promise that Brady may have made to his future franchise quarterback.

Tim Brown’s advice to Mendoza: 

“Don’t try and be Tom Brady, don’t try and be Patrick Mahomes. Just be who you are,” Brown said when asked what piece of advice he had for Mendoza. “Because at the end, it’s always going to come down to that anyway. You can plan to do this and plan to do that, but what’s in you is what’s always going to come out of you in the end.”

The advice makes sense, and it’s not just about the fate that most first-overall picks have to face but something more.

The learning curve of going from collegiate level to the professional world is already a steep hill to climb. Then there’s being the first-overall pick. Someone whom the franchise drafts, believing will turn the tide for them. The responsibility and learning at the new stage is pressuring enough, and the only thing that a player can always believe will work is being themselves.

No, Mendoza is not perfect. There are certainly many loopholes that he will need to fill before he can take a snap in silver and black. And Brady’s mentorship could play a huge role in it. But back in Indiana, he made plays when his team needed them and ended the season with a flawless 0-16 record. All while being himself. And then there’s Allen’s advice that the former Hoosier certainly understands the best.

Marcus Allen’s message to Mendoza:

Two days before Fernando Mendoza was going to win the Heisman trophy, his mother, Elsa, wrote him a letter. And the biggest thing that could have come out of those words would’ve been the tag she gave the quarterback: a true teammate.

Elsa suffers from multiple sclerosis and has been chair-bound since COVID-19. But Mendoza has remained by her side no matter what. He even rejected the NFL’s multiple requests to attend the 2026 NFL draft in Pittsburgh because his mother wanted to celebrate the milestone at home, surrounded by the family. Mendoza’s true teammate character doesn’t end with Elsa, though. And that’s precisely what Allen advised:

“You need guys in your corner, and the best way to get that is go in and be a great teammate,” Allen said. “Work your ass off and do everything you possibly can to be a success.”

He has refused to visit the White House to meet the President with the Hoosiers because the calendar would collide with the Raiders’ OTAs. And the best thing Mendoza can do right now to win trust from his teammates is to be with them rather than giving more weightage to a personal accolade from the past.

A quarterback’s biggest win is when the team supports him. For the Raiders, who have experienced quarterback instability for a long time now, Mendoza is already on track to set the standard.And that’s why Woodson also gave him a similar remark:

Charles Woodson’s advice for Mendoza: 

When the Hoosiers won the Championship, Mendoza wore his emotions on his sleeves. He gave a passionate speech about teamwork and what went into winning that title for the program no one had on their radar. That’s exactly what the Raiders fans want: passion.

“The easiest thing is to be who you are. He looks like he’s a very charismatic individual, high energy, looks like he wants to learn, and he looks like he’ll be a sponge.”

Woodson did quite literally whatever was needed of him for the Michigan Wolverines to go a perfect 12-0 and win the national championship. The 1988 Heisman winner certainly knows a thing or two about what it’s like to enter the NFL world with responsibilities.

So, yes, everyone, including Mendoza himself, would want to follow what Brady did for two decades in New England. Probably, he should. But what he should also rely on is who he is and what he does best, even when Brady has already told him what he plans to do with him.

Tom Brady made a promise to Fernando Mendoza before even drafting him

Ahead of the draft, the Raiders hosted Mendoza for a Top 30 visit. While it marked his first in-person meeting with Brady, the two had already connected virtually during the scouting combine in February, where Mendoza was asked to break down his game and explain his long-term vision as a quarterback. The conversations reportedly left a strong impression on both Brady and the Raiders’ staff.

But even before Las Vegas officially selected Mendoza first overall, there was already an expectation that Brady would take on a mentorship role during the quarterback’s rookie season. According to reports, Brady and Mendoza remained in contact before the draft process even concluded.

During an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, the former Indiana quarterback opened up about one of his conversations with Brady, admitting the seven-time Super Bowl champion made it clear he would not take it easy on him.

“He gave me the message that he’s going to push me,” said Mendoza. “He’s not going to be all lovey-dovey – and that if the Raiders draft me, he’s going to be a mentor and wants to pour into whatever QB the Raiders have.”

Mendoza enters the NFL following a historic season in Indiana, where he led the Hoosiers to a perfect 16-0 record and a national championship. During that run, he completed 72 percent of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six interceptions.

Given the trajectory Mendoza created for himself throughout his college career, it is easy to understand why Brown, Allen, and Woodson emphasized authenticity over imitation.

That said, the Raiders are not expected to throw Mendoza directly into the fire during his rookie season. Under head coach Klint Kubiak, the franchise signed Kirk Cousins to a five-year, $172 million deal, with the veteran expected to mentor Mendoza before eventually handing over the reins.

At the same time, the Raiders are already focusing on one particular area of Mendoza’s game that they believe still needs development before he fully takes over as the franchise quarterback.

Fernando Mendoza is working on his weakness ahead of the rookie season

Fernando Mendoza knows what he is walking into: a franchise that finished 3-14 in consecutive seasons, ranked dead last in both points and yards allowed in the 2025 season, has not won a playoff game since the 2002 season, and last made the postseason five years ago. The expectations surrounding Mendoza cannot be more massive.

There is a big concern, however.

He operated almost exclusively out of the shotgun formation throughout college and rarely played under center. Now, heading into his rookie season, the quarterback is actively working on that weakness.

“During the media viewing period of practice, Mendoza primarily took snaps under center, which is what he is expected to do in coach Klint Kubiak’s offensive scheme,” ESPN’s Ryan McDadden wrote. “Mendoza said he ‘still has a long way to go’ to learn how to play under center after operating mostly in shotgun formation at California and Indiana.”

During the 2025 season at Indiana, Mendoza took just three percent of snaps under center. Across his college career at Cal and Indiana, he reportedly took only five snaps from under center altogether. Kubiak’s offense, meanwhile, comes directly from the Shanahan-Kubiak coaching tree, which heavily relies on West Coast concepts, wide-zone runs, and play-action passing.

So, while Mendoza’s decision-making and accuracy have already earned him praise, adapting to Kubiak’s system could become one of the early tests of his NFL career as he looks to establish himself with the Raiders. Meanwhile, these advices will echo with him.