Fernando Mendoza shares the biggest advice he got from Tom Brady

Las Vegas Raiders young star Fernando Mendoza is entering the league in a privileged position.

The reigning No. 1 pick will get to play for a young, offensive-minded head coach, but he’ll also learn from a proven veteran like Kirk Cousins.

While Cousins isn’t there to be his mentor, Mendoza has no shortage of football savants to reach out to for advice. In fact, he has the best to ever do it, Tom Brady, as one of the team’s minority stakeholders.

Mendoza and Brady have reportedly been in constant communication for a while now, and the seven-time Super Bowl champion is trying to instill his competitive fire in Mendoza. In a talk with Michael Canelo of Sports Illustrated, Mendoza revealed the biggest piece of advice he got from Brady.

Tom Brady is helping mold Fernando Mendoza

“I think what he [Tom Brady] said is that as a quarterback, you need to be the best at everything. You need to be the most competitive, you need to be the strongest leader, and you must display mental and physical toughness,” Mendoza said. “You have to embody these qualities and lead by example in order to earn equity and respect from your teammates so that you can lead effectively.”

Brady knows a thing or two about that. He was never the biggest, fastest, strongest or most athletic or even had the best arm. 

However, he was often the best player, leader and winner on the field, regardless of the context or the opposition.

Brady was pretty much self-made in the league. Of course, he caught a big break with Drew Bledsoe’s injury, but his relentless work ethic, leadership and determination helped him hold onto that job for nearly two decades.

Likewise, Mendoza isn’t the most polished athlete, though he has good measurements for an NFL-caliber quarterback.

He’s also a restless worker and a guy who brings 100 percent on every single play, and that type of energy is contagious.

It might be a while before he takes the field as a starter, but he’s certainly making the most of every second in the facility, whether it’s on the practice field or picking Brady’s brain.