Flores endorses Mendoza for Raiders No. 15

Tom Flores, the former Raiders quarterback who wore No. 15, has given his blessing to Fernando Mendoza to don the number as the Las Vegas Raiders' No. 1 overall pick from the 2026 NFL draft. The Hall of Famer called the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback "perfect" during a team news conference on April 24, 2026, in Henderson, Nevada. Mendoza, who wore No. 15 at Indiana, received the endorsement after the Raiders never formally retired the digit.

Flores wore No. 15 for the Raiders from 1960 to 1967, passing for more than 11,000 yards and 92 touchdowns in that span. He later coached the Raiders to their first Super Bowl title after the 1980 season and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021. Mendoza responded to the gesture by praising the franchise's alumni involvement: "It speaks to the testament of once a Raider, always a Raider. ... I can’t thank [Flores] enough. I’m so blessed."

Flores praised Mendoza's skills: "He’s perfect. He can make every throw. He can make the plays. What can’t he do? He does it all. He’s fun to watch." He added: "He deserves my blessing. Because if he’s not the real deal, I don’t know what the hell I’m doing."

Mendoza joins the Raiders' rookie class at minicamp on Friday as the team aims to return to contention.