With the 2026 NFL Draft just days away in Pittsburgh, one of the most highly anticipated prospects on the board won’t be walking across the stage when his name is called. Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza told Rich Eisen on Monday that he’ll celebrate the biggest moment of his football life at home, and the decision is rooted in family, faith, and gratitude.
Fernando Mendoza shares with @richeisen why he will be celebrating the NFL draft at home and not in Pittsburgh.
(via @richeisenshow) pic.twitter.com/Q503CS4woJ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 20, 2026
Mendoza said on The Rich Eisen Show that not going to the green room in Pittsburgh wasn’t because of logistics or indifference; it was because he wanted to share the moment with the people who made the trip possible. The soon-to-be first-round pick wants to get together with his parents, siblings, and close friends in a private setting, turning what could have been a big ESPN moment into a very personal family celebration.
Years of quiet sacrifice from Mendoza’s family have helped him go from being an overlooked recruit to the projected top overall NFL pick. Mendoza is making sure that the first people he sees when his name is called are the ones who drove him to early-morning workouts, sat through every high school game, and helped him move to Indiana. That moment is just as much theirs as it is Mendoza’s.
Mendoza is one of a growing number of top prospects who have chosen to celebrate at home instead of in the league’s official green room. For a lot of players, being in a private setting takes away the stress of having cameras on them all the time, which could make a long wait even longer. Instead, they can fully feel the emotional weight of the moment with the people who are closest to them.
Even from a distance, Mendoza will be the most talked-about name in Round 1. The Las Vegas Raiders will be getting their quarterback of the future, who comes with great arm strength and calmness, as well as a young man whose family comes first, just like his play on the field.
The post NFL Draft news: Fernando Mendoza outlines heartfelt reason for not attending draft appeared first on ClutchPoints.
