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Fernando Mendoza’s ringtone caught everyone’s attention

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Fernando Mendoza giving his Heisman Trophy ceremony speech

Fans could see from miles away which team would pick Fernando Mendoza on Day 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft on Thursday, but they had no idea what the call from the Las Vegas Raiders would sound like.

With all eyes on the Indiana Hoosiers quarterback right before the Raiders selected him first overall, Mendoza’s phone rang, with a ringtone that sounded like it was straight out of a Saturday morning cartoon.

Here’s a video of that moment.

Nobody in the room seemed to pay attention to Mendoza’s ringtone. They were all quiet as he spoke to Raiders general manager John Spytek, who informed the national champion quarterback that Las Vegas would pick him first overall.

All that mattered to his family and friends at the time was that he was headed to Las Vegas.

The internet, meanwhile, had things to say about his ringtone choice.

Many view Mendoza as a football messiah for the Raiders franchise, an expectation that can be hard for some to reconcile with how his phone sounded. 

But that’s part of the intrigue when it comes to the young quarterback. 

Keeping that ringtone, knowing everyone would hear it, shows some level of confidence from Mendoza, who spearheaded one of the greatest championship runs in college football history with the Hoosiers.

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