Fernando Mendoza is a rare gem in this fast-paced and impatient digital world. While the world was basking in the glory of the Indiana Hoosiers national championship and their star quarterback’s success, some were hunting online for Mendoza’s girlfriend.
To everyone’s surprise, at a recent press conference, he revealed a secret: “I don’t have time for a girlfriend. Girls are distracting. If I have one, I’d give her my all…hanging out, instead of watching extra film.”
Fernando Mendoza would rather spend 6-9 PM watching extra film for game week than have dinner with a girlfriend
MLFootball recently shared a shocking clip over X where NFL legend Tom Brady’s favorite signal caller, Fernando Mendoza, gave advice to young college players. He also explained why he doesn’t have time for girlfriends.
“I know myself,” Mendoza said. “I know it’s such a short period of time that if I have a really good next year or two, I can make it to the NFL. I believe I will make it. However, at this point, I gotta limit all distractions.
I live a 3-minute walk from the facility, which has a weight room, practice area, and stadium. I think that it’s very important to be close. Especially with the girls; it can be very distracting now.”
You might find your first love in college,” Mendoza said. “But I know that if I finish class at 6, I’m going to give everything...
my all. So, if I have a girlfriend, I’m gonna give her my all.
That means I’m gonna go back from 6 to 9 PM, just go hang out with her, maybe getting dinner, rather than picking up dinner on the way back to class, and watch an extra film for the game week.”
While quarterbacks his age [22] are dating, like Jaxson Dart with Marissa Ayers, or already married with a child, like Travis Hunter with Leanna Lenee,
Or having kids like Minnesota Vikings quarterback J. J. McCarthy and fiancée Katya Kuropas welcomed their baby boy in Sept. 2025.
But Mendoza is goal-oriented [NFL] and focused on his career. He thinks having a girlfriend is having a distraction.
Now, how is this 22-year-old field general, the New England Patriots legend’s favorite?
An NFL insider recently revealed that the seven-time Super Bowl champion, also a part-owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, Tom Brady, may be interested in drafting Mendoza for their 2026 project. The Raiders had a dreadful season under the oldest NFL coach [74], Pete Carroll, and fired him as soon as their 2025 project ended with a 3-14 record.
NFL Insider Jordan Schultz recently reported on X: “The Raiders are believed to be focusing on an offensive-minded head coach to pair with the likely No. 1 overall pick, an Indiana quarterback, Fernando Mendoza, alongside Brock Bowers [tight end] and Ashton Jeanty [running back].”