Fernando Mendoza Balances NFL Career and Academic Achievements

Fernando Mendoza, the top pick of the 2026 NFL Draft, temporarily stepped away from his duties with the Las Vegas Raiders to celebrate a significant personal milestone. This weekend, he participated in his graduation ceremony, tossing his cap in the air. However, he headed back to his roots at Cal, not Indiana.

Mendoza had previously missed a White House event with his Indiana Hoosiers teammates to focus on training with his new NFL team. On Saturday, he joined Cal’s MBA commencement, despite not attending the undergraduate ceremony earlier that week.

We have one Haas undergraduate student who couldn’t make it to commencement on Wednesday. So, I hope you don’t mind I invited this person to our MBA commencement, said Jenny Chatman, dean of the Haas School of Business at Cal, acknowledging his absence earlier. He used his Haas skills and coursework to negotiate an excellent job and an excellent comp package.

The crowd cheered as Mendoza, always wearing his trademark smile, accepted his degree in business administration and management. This achievement followed his enrollment in a master’s program at Indiana in 2025, where he juggled dual academic commitments.

During his tenure at Indiana, Mendoza led his team to an impeccable undefeated season, culminating in a national championship win against his hometown team, the Miami Hurricanes. His performance solidified his position as the top quarterback choice in the draft, ensuring his selection by the Raiders.

Now, Mendoza’s focus remains on integrating into his team, with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins also in the mix. New head coach Klint Kubiak detailed a plan where Cousins starts initially, allowing Mendoza time to learn and adapt.

Mendoza chose not to attend the Hoosiers’ White House celebration of their national championship, prioritizing his role with the Raiders. However, he did speak with President Donald Trump to explain his absence.

President Trump mentioned at the ceremony in the nation’s capital, If he was not here for any other reason. If he did not like Trump, I would not have mentioned him for any other reason. I like him, he’s actually a big fan of what we’re doing… Fernando couldn’t be here today because he’s now a member of the Las Vegas Raiders. I hope he does good.