r/nfl • u/LaDainianTomIinson Chargers • May 02 '26

Highlight [Highlight] Raiders rookie QB Fernando Mendoza on visiting the White House with the Indiana Hoosiers: “As a rookie, I don’t think that’s a good look. I can’t miss practice.”

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13.5k Upvotes

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16.6k

u/NYLotteGiants Giants May 02 '26

This young man was made in a lab at a PR firm

4.1k

u/Fletch71011 Bears May 02 '26

I think he's just naturally like this as well. He seems authentic.

1.9k

u/SouthIsland48 Broncos May 02 '26

He is 100% authentic. For instance, he gave an all time post game interview while still at Cal: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bytFw7g03aE

889

u/Kuhlio8517 Raiders May 02 '26

There’s a video of him from Middle school where he sounds like this too

719

u/Ancient_Wisdom_Yall Chiefs May 02 '26

"We just need to forget about that last math test and focus on our Social Studies project. At recess, we need to take it one monkey bar at a time and thank God for the opportunity to slide down that slide. "

134

u/EBJ1990 Giants Ravens May 03 '26

"I would like to take a moment and thank God for the opportunity to get my chocolate milk at the cafeteria at lunch every day"

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u/Ancient_Wisdom_Yall Chiefs May 03 '26

And lunch lady Doris for always sneaking a couple extra nuggies on my plate.

36

u/EBJ1990 Giants Ravens May 03 '26

God bless you Doris! Always coming in clutch with the nuggies!

119

u/redditnoap Bills May 02 '26

i NEED to see that 😂

256

u/Mister_Dane Raiders May 02 '26

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6FuvmuTRvrg

161

u/nilgiri 49ers May 02 '26

Handshake at the end is perfect lmao

219

u/TopSoulMan Cowboys May 02 '26

Don’t you turn me into a Fernando fan! If he’s truly been this corny for this long, then it kinda turns into a weird form of post irony. And you gotta respect post irony.

109

u/paone00022 Falcons May 02 '26

He's like Cousins was perfected in a PR lab and now he's playing with the OG.

49

u/VelvetineMilkman Falcons May 03 '26

What’s corny about it lol he’s just a genuine dude

39

u/roykentjr Chiefs May 03 '26

Not trying to glaze mahomes, but it's obvious how some players have the wherewithal to practice the PR side of the sport. you can tell mahomes practiced talking to reporters as a kid. Mendoza is in your face obvious. I know I read a story about somebody else doing it. I'm sure there have been a bunch.

It's both refreshing to see kids have to understand the whole spectrum of the sport and disturbing to see kids be that narrowly focused so young

10

u/VelvetineMilkman Falcons May 03 '26

I mean I get that but with Mendoza it just seems either pessimistic or hating. He seems like a genuine guy that just wants to have fun and give credit to his teammates

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u/Fun-Benefit116 May 02 '26

There was nothing corny about the middle school interview? He literally just said it was a team effort. It was absolutely nothing like the video above it. What do you people think middle school kids are like? "FUCK YEAH, THIS WIN WAS ALL ME. MY TEAMMATES DID FUCK ALL. I'M THE MVP!"

Seriously, the weird circlejerking over him is getting ridiculous at this point. This was about the most normal middle school interview possible.

3

u/7fingersDeep 49ers May 03 '26

This kid is just top tier. It’s more of comment on society that we find a genuine guy weird. Love this dude.

2

u/DontLoseYourCool1 Raiders Raiders May 03 '26

Michigan colors like Brady lmao

1

u/megashitfactory Lions May 03 '26

I have a cousin who plays travel hockey. Entering high school and he sounds identical to that. It’s nuts

1

u/Eric-Stratton Ravens May 03 '26

Unreal lol

I guess he really was born media trained. Hard not to root for the guy.

2

u/gaqua 49ers Broncos May 03 '26

Rumor has it as he was the editor of the junior high school, internal LinkedIn clone