Fernando Mendoza says Tom Brady told him to “be the most everything” as Raiders media day arrives

Las Vegas Raiders Media Day on June 8 put Fernando Mendoza in a quarterback spotlight that is harder to ignore than any practice-field backdrop. In uniform for the first time in a setting built for cameras and fan access, Mendoza offered a window into how he is approaching the early adjustment period after leaving Indiana Hoosiers red behind for the Raiders’ silver-and-black. He framed the transition as work in progress, then turned quickly to a simple message he says he received from Raiders minority owner and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady.

Mendoza said Brady’s advice to him was rooted in a quarterback mindset: “As a quarterback you need to be the most everything.” Mendoza then described what “most everything” means in practical terms, tying it to competitiveness, leadership, and toughness. According to Mendoza, Brady emphasized being “the most competitive,” having “the most leadership,” and needing to be “the toughest – mentally and physically.” He also indicated he prefers to keep some conversations private, but was willing to share enough to show what kind of standard he is trying to meet as he settles into the NFL routine.

The remarks landed with added weight because Mendoza is stepping into a quarterback room that the Raiders have already publicly positioned as a blend of present and future. The storyline heading into training camp, as described in the same Raiders season coverage, is expected to include a competition between Mendoza and veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins for the starting job. That dynamic makes Brady’s “leader-first” focus less like motivational wallpaper and more like a roadmap for how Mendoza wants to earn trust, even if reps are limited early.

Raiders Media Day itself is built for that kind of transition. promoted the event as a day when players put on their uniforms to record headshots, portraits, and promotional content on the team’s indoor practice field, with a live behind-the-scenes show running on June 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. PT. Former Raiders performers Amber Theoharis, Eric Allen, and James Jones were scheduled to break down the action while talking to players and coaches, underscoring the team’s emphasis on showcasing the new era being built around the quarterback position.

Within that framework, Mendoza’s focus on leadership and toughness also fits the Raiders’ broader offseason narrative of installing a new operating style. Yahoo’s account of Monday’s interview placed Mendoza’s comments in the context of a quarterback development environment that includes both Brady and head coach Klint Kubiak, along with Cousins as the experienced presence in the room. For a rookie quarterback, the point is not just learning an offense, but learning how to perform under scrutiny, how to set standards in meetings, and how to keep composure when the learning curve shows on the field.

What to watch next is how those values translate into practice habits. Mendoza is expected to keep building his footing through the Raiders’ offseason calendar, with the starting quarterback discussion shaped in part by how quickly he and Cousins can demonstrate command and execution. If Brady’s message carries the weight Mendoza says it does, the early bar is likely to be as much about leadership consistency as it is about highlight-reel production.