Fernando Mendoza says the Raiders have 'the most Hispanic fan base'

Las Vegas Raiders backmost Fernando Mendoza claimed his caller squad has the "most Hispanic instrumentality base" aft going No. 1 wide successful the NFL Draft. Mendoza made the connection during his introductory property league for the squad connected Friday.

"The past of the Raiders, particularly the Hispanic history, is similar nary other. I judge it's astir apt the astir Hispanic instrumentality basal and legends similar Mr. [Jim] Plunkett, similar Mr. [Tom] Flores. I mean, each those legendary Hispanic idols and cornerstones of the franchise. It means a batch arsenic a Cuban American to travel to this franchise and assistance effort to transportation the torch. But again, I've got to beryllium it, and I'm truly looking guardant to connecting with the Hispanic assemblage here," Mendoza said.

Mendoza himself is Cuban, arsenic the descendant of Cuban refugees.

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Indiana backmost Fernando Mendoza passes against Miami during the archetypal fractional of the College Football Playoff nationalist title crippled successful Miami Gardens, Fla., connected Jan. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

After Fidel Castro seized power of Cuba and installed a communist regime, each 4 of Mendoza's grandparents fled the state and came to America.

"We each thought it was temporary," Mendoza's maternal grandfather, Alberto Espino, antecedently told The Washington Post. "There was nary mode the United States would let a communist authorities 90 miles away."

But Castro's reign endured, truthful Espino and the Mendozas remained successful the U.S. and built their lives arsenic Americans.

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Indiana Hoosiers backmost Fernando Mendoza looks connected during warmups earlier the College Football Playoff National Championship crippled against the Miami Hurricanes astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens, Florida, connected Jan. 19, 2026. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

Mendoza is coming into the NFL aft 1 of the champion seasons by a backmost successful assemblage shot past for Indiana.

Now, arsenic the backmost of the Raiders, helium volition beryllium nether unit to transportation 1 of the league's historical franchises backmost to prominence aft decades of underachieving.

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Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected arsenic the No. 1 wide prime successful the 2026 NFL draught by the Las Vegas Raiders, speaks during a quality league astatine the Raiders Headquarters successful Henderson, Nev., connected April 24, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

"It's a immense responsibility, but it's besides a immense grant to grant the legacy. The Raiders are a halfway historical franchise and 1 of the faces of the NFL, and I consciousness like, again, I request to beryllium it and gain it each azygous day," Mendoza said.

"Especially arsenic a rookie, nothing's given, and my content successful that everything is earned. So, I'm going to travel successful humble, effort to found myself with my enactment ethic and pb by example, but astatine the extremity of the day, it's each large saying these words, but I've got to bash it."

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