Fernando Mendoza had been under the spotlight since he led the Indiana Hoosiers to their first National Championship after winning the Heisman. Now, landing as the No.1 pick with the Las Vegas Raiders, he surpassed the Indiana alum, Brandon “Babe” Laufenberg's long-standing draft record.

The 66-year-old quarterback posted on X and made an admission. Laufenberg was the highest drafted quarterback from the Indiana Hoosiers before Mendoza went No.1 in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

“OK. My 43 year reign as the highest drafted QB to be drafted from IU came to an end as Fernando Mendoza barely edged me out by 167 picks,” the post read.

The Washington Commanders selected Laufenberg in the sixth round as their 168th pick in the 1983 NFL Draft. Laufenberg spent nine years as a professional football quarterback across the NFL and World League of American Football (WLAF).

"I have received many texts of sympathy but in lieu of flowers, I ask that you donate to the Luke Laufenberg Fight Fund. Thank you," he added some humor to the tweet as well.

Since the NFL–AFL merger, eight Indiana quarterbacks have been selected in the NFL Draft. However, only five of those Hoosiers have actually seen game action. Out of them, just three made a start before Mendoza entered the league.

While Laufenberg was drafted in 1983, he first started in the NFL after five years when the San Diego Chargers signed him.

Coming out of Indiana, he had 25 interceptions with only 19 touchdowns. Laufenberg could only manage to lead the Hoosiers to eight combined wins in 1981 and 1982. 

Four decades later, Mendoza scored 41 touchdowns in a single season with Indiana with only six interceptions. Weeks before the draft, Laufenberg also made a joke about the possibility of Mendoza stumbling down the 2026 NFL draft.

"Mendoza had his pro day at IU yesterday. Did any of you draft gurus see anything to lead you to believe he might drop to #169?" he asked on April 2.

And that record was certainly broken, ending a 43-year reign when Klint Kubiak and John Spytek made that phone call to Fernando Mendoza. 

Another Record for Mendoza Before Entering the NFL

After breaking Laufenberg’s record, Mendoza joins an elite list of quarterbacks. He is alongside the likes of Joe Burrow, Jameis Winston, and Cam Newton. What do they all share in common? 

All four quarterbacks are the only ones since 1967 to have won the Heisman Trophy, led their university to a national title, and gone No.1 overall in the NFL Draft. 

While there has been no turning back for Mendoza after winning the Heisman, he still believes that he has to work on himself.

“I believe I’m still the underdog,” Mendoza said after the draft on April 23. “Can tell you right now, I’m not one of the 32 quarterbacks. I need to work every single day possible because I’m at the bottom of the totem pole right now. I’m ready to do whatever the team needs.”

For this, he has already started preparations. He is now practicing with Brian Griese, who has worked with Klint Kubiak.

What are your thoughts on Mendoza breaking another record? Drop in the comments.

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Written by

Samvruth Raj

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar