Even Peyton Manning Couldn’t Convince Fernando Mendoza to Attend NFL Draft

The NFL made a late push to get its biggest name to the stage.

According to NBC News, Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning was contacted by the league and asked to personally encourage Fernando Mendoza to attend the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza, widely expected to be selected No. 1 overall, ultimately declined.

Manning confirmed the outreach, explaining that the NFL “reached out to me” to “maybe encourage” Mendoza to reconsider his decision.

The attempt didn’t change anything: Mendoza is still choosing to stay home rather than appear on the draft stage.

The decision underscores a different approach from a quarterback who has consistently handled his rise on his own terms. Mendoza has already been projected as the likely No. 1 pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, with mock drafts positioning him as the centerpiece of the franchise’s rebuild.

At 6-foot-5 with a reputation for precision passing and control at the line of scrimmage, he enters the league as one of the most polished quarterback prospects in recent cycles.

Mendoza has publicly addressed his reasoning in recent appearances, including a sit-down on The Rich Eisen Show, where he explained that attending the draft is a personal choice.

After leading Indiana to a national championship and becoming the program’s first Heisman Trophy winner, he quickly transitioned into a broader cultural presence.

Days after the title game, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he joked that his game-winning touchdown felt like being “a human pinball machine” and went on to break eight vinyl records during a segment with Jimmy Fallon.

He followed that moment by officially declaring for the draft, calling his move to Indiana “a leap of faith” that led to a perfect season and a championship.

Throughout the process, Mendoza has continued to emphasize family, particularly his mother, whom he called “my why” during his Heisman speech.