Fernando Mendoza reveals Kurt Chinetti’s proposal that ‘sold’ him on the Hoosiers

Widely designed to be the first player selected in the 2026 NFL Draftit is safe to assume Fernando Mendoza is very happy with his decision to sign with Indiana for the 2025 season.

A one-time high school player turned intriguing player at the University of California, Berkeley, few could have predicted that Mendoza would become a Heisman Trophy winner, a future national champion or the greatest single-season passer in Hoosiers history, winning more games than any other Indiana quarterback during the campaign.

One person who believed in Mendoza’s side, however, did Curt Cignettiwho secured the services of a young passer and transformed him into a player the Las Vegas Raiders will likely select first overall.

Discussing his journey from Christopher Columbus High School to Cal, Ind., and soon to the NFL in an article with The Athletic, Mendoza revealed that Cignetti “sold” how he became a Hoosier and why he is incredibly happy with the results.

“However, Coach Cignetti really sold me, we will develop you” Mendoza said. The quarterback recalled Cignetti’s move: “‘I don’t have a crystal ball. I can’t say if we’re going to be top 25 in the nation, No. 1, or outside of that top 25. But I know I develop quarterbacks. That’s what I do.’

“With the help of coach Whitmer, who has been phenomenal, coach (Mike) Shanahan and coach Cignetti, I’ve been able to develop into that quarterback and make the exponential jump this year that I’ve been striving for. I’m really thankful that he sold me on Fernando’s development like that quarter of school made me decide. the best quarterback I can control. It goes back to the concepts of controlling the controlled and staying in the present moment.

While some detractors were only too eager to point out that he is not an elite passer statistically, with 14 other quarterbacks throwing for more yards of Mendoza, despite having a 16-game sample thanks to the playoffs, was able to command Indiana’s offense like no other, completing 72 percent of his passes for a 41-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio.

Mendoza displayed a unique ability to lead his team to victory regardless of the opponent and was rewarded for it, winning the Heisman Award, the Walter Kamp Award, the Maxwell Award, the Davey O’Brien Award, the Manning Award and the AP College Football Player of the Year award for his outstanding efforts, turning one of the nation’s historically worst football programs around. If that’s not worthy of being the No. 1 overall pick, what is?