Fernando Mendoza, projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, declined to attend the event in Pittsburgh despite Peyton Manning's efforts to persuade him. Mendoza will watch the draft from Miami with family and friends.
Key points
Fernando Mendoza is projected as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Mendoza will watch the draft from Miami instead of attending.
Peyton Manning was asked to persuade Mendoza to attend.
The draft will take place in Pittsburgh on April 23.
Mentioned in this story
Peyton ManningPittsburghMiami
Fernando MendozaLas Vegas Raiders2026 NFL Draft
Fernando Mendoza could not be convinced to attend the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Not even when one of the NFL's greatest quarterbacks tried.
Mendoza is expected to be the No. 1 pick when the Las Vegas Raiders make their selection to begin the first round of the draft on Thursday, April 23. But he decided weeks ago he won't make the customary walk on stage to put on his team hat, shake hands with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and hold up his new jersey for the cameras. Instead, the Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana to its first national championship in football will watch from home in Miami with friends and family.
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See the college quarterbacks drawing attention as draft boards take shape ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Above, Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts after a touchdown against the Oregon Ducks during the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
Ty Simpson of the Alabama Crimson Tide scrambles during the first quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2026, in Pasadena, California.
Garrett Nussmeier of the LSU Tigers drops back to pass against the Baylor Bears during the first half in the Kinder's Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 31, 2024, in Houston, Texas.
Cade Klubnik of the Clemson Tigers warms up during the first half of a football game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 29, 2025, in Columbia, South Carolina.
Drew Allar of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after a touchdown against the UCLA Bruins during the fourth quarter at Rose Bowl Stadium on October 04, 2025, in Pasadena, California.
Miami's Carson Beck throws during the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green passes during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Colorado Buffaloes linebacker LaVonta Bentley #20 tackles North Dakota State Bison quarterback Cole Payton #9 in the first half at Folsom Field.
Luke Altmyer of the Illinois Fighting Illini throws a pass against the Western Illinois Leathernecks during the first half at Memorial Stadium on August 29, 2025, in Champaign, Illinois.
Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores makes adjustments prior to the snap during the second quarter of the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 01, 2025, in Austin, Texas.
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See the top quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft
Quarterbacks headline early evaluations for the 2026 NFL Draft as teams begin sorting the best available prospects at the position.
See the college quarterbacks drawing attention as draft boards take shape ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Above, Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts after a touchdown against the Oregon Ducks during the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
1 / 10
See the top quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft
Quarterbacks headline early evaluations for the 2026 NFL Draft as teams begin sorting the best available prospects at the position.
See the college quarterbacks drawing attention as draft boards take shape ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Above, Fernando Mendoza of the Indiana Hoosiers reacts after a touchdown against the Oregon Ducks during the fourth quarter of the 2025 College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 09, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia.
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See the top quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft
Ty Simpson of the Alabama Crimson Tide scrambles during the first quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2026, in Pasadena, California.
3 / 10
See the top quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft
Garrett Nussmeier of the LSU Tigers drops back to pass against the Baylor Bears during the first half in the Kinder's Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium on December 31, 2024, in Houston, Texas.
4 / 10
See the top quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft
Cade Klubnik of the Clemson Tigers warms up during the first half of a football game against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 29, 2025, in Columbia, South Carolina.
5 / 10
See the top quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft
Drew Allar of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after a touchdown against the UCLA Bruins during the fourth quarter at Rose Bowl Stadium on October 04, 2025, in Pasadena, California.
6 / 10
See the top quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft
Miami's Carson Beck throws during the College Football Playoff National Championship college football game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
7 / 10
See the top quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft
Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green passes during the third quarter against the Auburn Tigers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
8 / 10
See the top quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft
Colorado Buffaloes linebacker LaVonta Bentley #20 tackles North Dakota State Bison quarterback Cole Payton #9 in the first half at Folsom Field.
9 / 10
See the top quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft
Luke Altmyer of the Illinois Fighting Illini throws a pass against the Western Illinois Leathernecks during the first half at Memorial Stadium on August 29, 2025, in Champaign, Illinois.
10 / 10
See the top quarterbacks available in the 2026 NFL Draft
Diego Pavia of the Vanderbilt Commodores makes adjustments prior to the snap during the second quarter of the game against the Texas Longhorns at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 01, 2025, in Austin, Texas.
"I'll be honest, the NFL kind of reached out to me," Manning told reporters Wednesday at a "Night of Champions" event celebrating the 2015 Denver Broncos, according to a video posted on social media by a Denver Post reporter "I reached out to Mendoza to maybe encourage him to go to the draft and he was staying home with his family, which will be fine."
Mendoza has drawn some comparisons to Manning in the lead up to Thursday's NFL draft, most recently from ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr. Mendoza has a relationship with Manning dating back at least to when he served as a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy in 2024 while still playing for the University of California. Mendoza said after receiving the Manning Award in February the Manning family were among the people he has sought advice and insight from since then.
Manning said his point to Mendoza was that he could enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience of being the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft and celebrate with his family. Manning noted how he attended the draft in New York when the Indianapolis Colts picked him No. 1 overall in 1998, flew to Indianapolis the next day for a news conference and then went to Knoxville, Tennessee to be with his friends and extended family.
"That was my message to Fernando. You can do both," Manning said on Wednesday. "You can go to the draft and have a good party down in Miami."
But Mendoza told The Rick Eisen Show earlier this week that he preferred to go through the NFL draft at home to lessen the amount of travel given his "family situation" and involve more people from his upbringing in the celebration. Mendoza's mother lives with multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, and the family plans to come with Mendoza to Las Vegas after draft night.
"My mom really wanted to do it at home and my parents, it's a lot easier for us, especially with the family situation and we have to hop on a plane the next morning anyways. And for that travel, it'd be a lot easier to stay at home," Mendoza said. "I wanted to stay and make the memory with everybody who poured into my football journey. Mentors, coaches, family, friends, being able to share that moment with all of them is going to be the best memory I can make, rather than limit it to 10 or 12 people in Pittsburgh.
"I think it's very important to start this journey with everyone who has gotten me to this point," he added.
