Flores endorses Mendoza for Raiders No. 15 jersey
Tom Flores, the former Raiders quarterback and coach who wore No. 15, has given his blessing to Fernando Mendoza to wear the number as a rookie. The Las Vegas Raiders selected Mendoza, a Heisman Trophy winner from Indiana, first overall in the 2026 NFL draft. Flores called Mendoza "perfect" and said he deserves the blessing.
Mendoza faced a potential obstacle with No. 15 because of its association with Flores, though the Raiders never retired it. At a news conference on April 24, 2026, in Henderson, Nevada, alongside general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak, Mendoza received Flores' approval. "He’s perfect," Flores said, according to the team's website. "He can make every throw. He can make the plays. What can’t he do? He does it all. He’s fun to watch."
Flores wore No. 15 for the Raiders from 1960 to 1967, passing for more than 11,100 yards and 91 touchdowns in that span. A Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee in 2021, he later coached the Raiders to victory in Super Bowl XVI after the 1980 season. Mendoza responded to the endorsement by praising the Raiders' alumni involvement. "It speaks to the testament of once a Raider, always a Raider," he said.
Mendoza reports for Raiders rookie minicamp on Friday amid high expectations for the top pick on a franchise seeking a return to contention.
