For Fernando Mendoza, the next chapter of his rookie season is about more than football. The Las Vegas Raiders’ young quarterback is carrying the hopes of every Hispanic player who came before him — and he knows it. In a new ESPN feature, Mendoza speaks about representing the Hispanic community, inspired by the legacies of Raiders legends Tom Flores and Jim Plunkett and embraced by one of the NFL’s most Hispanic fan bases.
Fernando Mendoza, Raiders quarterback (Credits: Las Vegas Raiders)
Fernando Mendoza and the Raiders’ Hispanic legacy
Mendoza’s connection to that history runs deep. As a high schooler he watched former Texas A&M quarterback Zach Calzada, then researched Latino trailblazers like Flores and Plunkett to understand what was possible at the sport’s highest level. Flores, a Mexican American, was the first Hispanic quarterback in the NFL when he debuted for the Oakland Raiders in 1960. Plunkett, also Mexican American, starred at Stanford, won the Heisman Trophy in 1970 and was selected first overall in the 1971 draft — the first Hispanic American to do both.
Flores and Plunkett later became the first Hispanic coach and quarterback to win a Super Bowl together, beating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV in 1981, with Plunkett earning game MVP honours.
Carrying the torch as the Raiders’ No. 1 pick
As the Raiders’ No. 1 pick in April’s draft, Mendoza sees those histories as both inspiration and responsibility. “To see that example [and] to know whatever I am doing, it is possible, meant a great deal to me,” he told ESPN, adding that winning a championship while being Hispanic is a source of pride — and pressure he accepts as part of the role.
The symbolism became literal on draft weekend, when Flores passed his iconic No. 15 jersey torch to Mendoza. “It’s a privilege to have him wear my number,” Flores said. Mendoza, a Cuban American, has spoken about how much the franchise’s Hispanic history means to him: “The history of the Raiders, especially the Hispanic history, is like no other. I believe it’s probably the most Hispanic fan base.”
Plunkett, meanwhile, noted it had been 55 years since a Latino was taken first in the NFL Draft — he was that pick in 1971 — and said he hoped it would not take another 55 years. “It’s important to the Hispanic community,” Plunkett said. “I’m very proud of Fernando.”
The Raiders have not reached the postseason since 2021 and have not appeared in a Super Bowl since 2002, so Mendoza’s task is a big one. But as he put it himself at his introductory press conference, he plans to come in humble, establish himself through work ethic and lead by example — and to prove it on the field.
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Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
