The Las Vegas Raiders are already making moves in preparation for the arrival of Fernando Mendoza.
The Raiders have all but confirmed their intent to make Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza the first overall pick in next month’s draft. With Mendoza already seeming to be the team’s focus, Las Vegas has reportedly hired Mike Sullivan to become the team’s quarterbacks coach. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo broke the news on X.
The #Raiders are hiring a QB coach after all. Mike Sullivan has been tabbed to work with presumptive No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, sources tell The Insiders.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 25, 2026
It’ll be Sullivan’s fifth stint as a QB coach — two with the #Giants, one each with the #Steelers and #Broncos. pic.twitter.com/cS4kdWS3Kv
Those who are familiar with Sullivan know exactly the kind of impact he could have on a young, malleable play-caller like Mendoza. Sullivan famously served as Eli Manning’s quarterbacks coach during the former’s first tenure with the New York Giants from 2004 to 2011.
Sullivan was widely credited for helping mold Manning into a QB capable of winning two Super Bowls across their eight seasons together. Sullivan had a similarly positive impact during his stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2012-2014) and Denver Broncos (2018).
Sullivan also coached Pittsburgh Steelers legend Ben Roethlisberger during the latter’s final NFL season. Big Ben threw for a respectable 3,740 yards with 22 touchdowns in his age-39 campaign.
The Raiders are banking on Sullivan forming the same bond with Mendoza as he did with Manning, complete with the hardware to match.
