Fernando Mendoza won’t be attending the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh and it’s a decision that hasn’t particularly excited the league.
The last time the no. 1 pick in the NFL draft didn’t attend the draft was 2021 when Trevor Lawrence made the decision to stay home with his family. This year, the NFL didn’t go down easy and called on one of their highest profile diplomats to try and sway Mendoza’s decision.
“It was a special day. I’ll be honest. The NFL reached out to me. I reached out to Mendoza to maybe encourage him to go to the draft,” Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning said on Wednesday.
“I know he’s staying home with his family, which will be fine. But it is special to be there… I remember getting drafted. I flew to Indianapolis for a little press conference and then the Colts flew me to Knoxville and I had a draft party. That was my message to Fernando is you can do both. You can go to the draft and have a good party.”
Mendoza said this week that his mother, who is battling multiple sclerosis, wanted him to stay home for the draft and he wanted to be with more than just a dozen or so friends and family in Pittsburgh.
“My mom really wanted to do it at home, and so did my parents. It’s a lot easier for us, especially with the family situation. I’m going to have to hop on a plane [in] the morning anyways. For that travel, it will be a lot easier to stay at home,” Mendoza said Monday on The Rich Eisen Show.
“I wanted to stay and make the memory with everybody who poured into my football journey,” Mendoza continued. “Mentors, coaches, family, friends, we want to share that memory with all of them is going to be the best memory that I could make, rather than limit it to 10 or 12 people in Pittsburgh.”
x: @raidersbeat
Excellent decision Fernando! Raider Nation has your back!
Screw the NFL and Goodell. Mendoza wants to be with his ailing mother and family. The NFL can go pound sand in their instant replay booth.