After his tremendous season in the NCAA with the Indiana Hoosiers, Fernando Mendoza confirmed his future link with the Las Vegas Raiders of Tom Brady for the next 2026/2027 NFL season. Even though the Las Vegas team desires to build its team around the rookie sensation, it just met with a surprising and deeply personal roadblock for Mendoza.
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Despite the Raiders’ efforts to surround their young signal-caller with people of his trust, a crucial piece of Mendoza’s development is heading the other way. Chandler Whitmer, the coach often cited as Mendoza’s most trusted mentor during their time at Indiana, has reportedly turned down an opportunity in Las Vegas to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The connection between Mendonza and Whitmer
To understand why this is a major hit at the Raiders’ desires, we must look at the chemistry forged between the two. Fernando Mendoza’s meteoric rise at the Hoosiers was overseen by Whitmer, who served as an offensive analyst and a constant voice in the young QB’s ear.
When the Raiders selected Mendoza, their goal was clear: simulate the environment that allowed him to thrive in college. Whitmer was the main target for a specialized offensive role, intended to act as the bridge between the rookie and the complex NFL playbook. Sources close to Mendoza describe Whitmer not just as a coach, but as the architect of his confidence.
The Buccaneers took over Brady
Tom Brady has been a long advocate of the importance of coaching continuity for young players. Yet, it was Brady’s former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who ultimately secured Whitmer’s services, adding a bit of irony to the case.
In Tampa Bay, they are undergoing their own offensive revitalization under Liam Coen, and offered Whitmer a role that reportedly provided more vertical growth within the coaching ranks. While the Raiders offered familiarity, the Bucs offered a path to becoming a primary play-caller, something that matched Whitmer’s expectations and desires.
Now, the Raiders must move on. But for Mendoza, Whitmer is the person who knows him the most, so the importance of this situation will not be that easy to forget for him as it is for the franchise. He will meet other professionals though, so he can be sure that his future is in the right hands either way.
