LAS VEGAS – Fernando Mendoza will not be the only Heisman winner in the room being honored Tuesday night.
The Hispanic Football Hall of Fame will induct seven legends into its inaugural Class of 2026. The “Celebración de Fútbol” will fittingly take place on Cinco de Mayo.
Mendoza, the 2025 Heisman winner who led Indiana to the College Football Playoff National Championship, will be recognized as the College Player of the Year. Last season Mendoza led the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and their first national title in football.
The Las Vegas Raiders picked him first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft last month.
’A great honor’
“It’s a great honor,” Mendoza said of the Hispanic College Player of the Year honor. “There have been many great Hispanic players like Jim Plunkett.
“And there were many great Hispanic college players this year. So to be named College Player of the Year is a great honor.”
Mendoza is Cuban American from Miami. He recognizes the sacrifices made by his family to make this moment possible.
“It really makes me proud for my grandparents,” he said. “The four of them immigrated from Cuba. Them living the American Dream allowed me to be on this stage. It means a lot.”
Mendoza’s early career draws parallels to one of the inductees.
Plunkett, the 1970 Heisman winner out of Stanford, is of Mexican descent. The Stanford graduate was also the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. The other members of the inaugural Hall of Fame class are Tom Flores, Ted Hendricks, Tom Fears, Steve Van Buren, Anthony Muñoz and Ron Rivera.
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Plunkett, the first Latino Heisman winner, is a two-time Super Bowl champion. He was named Super Bowl XV MVP.
Plunkett will join six others inducted into the Hispanic Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday.
He’ll join his former Raiders coach Tom Flores, a Pro Football Hall of Famer of Mexican descent. Flores was the NFL’s first Latinos starting quarterback. He was also the first Latino head coach and general manager.
As a coach, Flores won two Super Bowls with the Raiders – 1981, 1984 – while becoming the first person of color to coach a Super Bowl champion.
Anthony Muñoz anchors class
Another member of the HFHOF’s inaugural class is eight-time Pro Bowl selection Ted Hendricks, who was of Guatemalan descent. He was a four-time Super Bowl champion – 1972, 1977, 1981, 1984. He is on the NFL’s 75th and 100th anniversary teams.
Tom Fears was the first Mexican‑born player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He caught the game-winning touchdown in the 1951 championship game. Fears led the NFL in receiving yards in 1949. He led the league in receptions in 1950 and 1951.
Two-time champion Steve Van Buren was of Honduran descent. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965. Van Buren led the NFL in rushing four times.
Super Bowl champion Ron Rivera is of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent. Rivera is the winningest head coach in Carolina Panthers history. He played nine seasons with the Bears and won the Super Bowl in 1985.
Muñoz, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, is of Mexican descent. The former offensive lineman was an 11-time Pro Bowl selection.
Also being recognized Tuesday are Nik Bonitto and Ryan Estrada. Bonitto will be honored as the Pro Player of the Year. Estrada is the High School Player of the Year.
