Fernando Mendoza called out the White House visit question—here’s exactly how he dodged it

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza walks past the Raiders’ logo after a press conference, Friday April 24, 2026 in Henderson, Nev.

(DJ Cabanlong - The Sporting Tribune)

For Fernando Mendoza, the sweat of hard work matters more than the shine of a championship — it’s what earns a leader respect inside the locker room.

The Las Vegas Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft recently surprised many by turning down a chance to visit the White House with the Indiana Hoosiers. As a rookie, Mendoza felt skipping practice for a celebration wasn’t “a good look.” Although Raiders OTAs (Organized Team Activities) officially begin May 18 and the White House visit is scheduled for May 11, Mendoza’s ‘football-first’ attitude shows he came to Vegas not to sell jerseys, but to win.

“I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here. I’ve got to prove myself. I can’t miss practice,” Mendoza said. “I don’t have the calendar, but as a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look.”

“Although I’ve come off as very humble, and pretty fuzzy and warm, at the end of my Indiana career when you have that equity, you’re able to be like No. 4 [Brett Favre] and No. 12 [Aaron Rodgers],” he told the Raiders broadcast this week.

Mendoza knows that with a veteran like Kirk Cousins present, he’ll have to fight for every rep.

“He has no fears about working and staying late and being the best he can be,” said his mother, Elsa Mendoza. “He’s just confident that he knows he can outwork anybody.”