Tom Brady Congratulates 2026 NFL Rookies and Welcomes Fernando Mendoza to Raiders
The GOAT speaks. If you are a newbie coming into the league, some of the best advice you will receive will come from veterans. Individuals who have been in the same place, position and situations. Overcoming challenges, injuries and navigating the transition from college to the professional level. There’s a seven time champion who understands how newcomers may feel on draft night and offered some quick words of encouragement. Tom Brady congratulates 2026 NFL rookies and officially welcomes Fernando Mendoza to the Las Vegas Raiders.
Near the conclusion of night one of the NFL Draft, Brady left a message online. It read as follows:
“Congratulations to all the rookies who are joining the NFL this weekend. I hope you can appreciate this special moment… you’ve earned it through hard work, discipline, and determination. You’ve made your family proud, along with everyone else on your journey that has supported you.
But this is just the beginning. When you wake up tomorrow morning, just know that your career will be defined by what happens going forward. You’ll need to take everything you do to the next level in order to compete with the world’s best.
Welcome to Las Vegas Fernando Mendoza. Time to get to work.”
Tom Brady Congratulates 2026 NFL Rookies and Welcomes Fernando Mendoza to Raiders
Speaking of Mendoza, the quarterback had plenty to say on draft night as well. He discussed why he feels Vegas is a great fit for him, what he hopes to bring to the table in skill set; and why he agrees with Brady about working hard. Mendoza mentioned,
“I believe I’m still the underdog. Although the draft was today …. although I was picked today one out of 32 – I’m not one out of 32 quarterbacks at this moment. So, I need to work every single day possible, because I’m on the bottom of the totem pole. … I’ve got to first earn the respect of my teammates, earn that equity, and I’ve also just got to immerse, and I’m just ready to do whatever the team needs and calls me to do to help them win.
[The Raiders’] scheme, it really allows the quarterback to be a point guard. I believe that my job – we have so many great playmakers, whether from the outside, tight end, running back or offensive line, I just need to get the ball to the playmakers and do my part of the offense and be my 1/11th.
Deep down, in my heart, I knew the Raiders are most likely going to be the best fit because of the coaching staff. I think it really fits my play-style great, with all the great teammates on offense and defense, they’re stacked. … I think all the stars are aligning here, and this is a blessing, this position.”
Well, the Las Vegas organization feels just as blessed to have Mendoza joining the team. He was a winner at the college level and now has the opportunity to repeat the same success with the Raiders. The Raiders selecting Fernando Mendoza at No. 1 puts him alongside Joe Burrow, Jameis Winston as well as Cam Newton as the only QBs since 1967 to win the Heisman Trophy, a national title and go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft.
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