Fernando Mendoza is the Las Vegas Raiders' new starting quarterback. General manager John Spytek confirmed the decision on Tuesday 11 November 2026, after the Raiders traded Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings, and the rookie will make his first career start at home on Sunday against the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. ## Why the Raiders made the change now Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, had waited behind Cousins for the first nine games of the season. Spytek said the rookie had "passed every test" in practice. "He put us in a position where we had to make a really hard decision today, with his growth as a person, as a teammate, as a leader, as a quarterback," Spytek said, as reported by [ESPN](https://www.espn.ph/nfl/story/_/id/50447756/raiders-name-fernando-mendoza-starting-qb-trading-kirk-cousins). Head coach Klint Kubiak said Mendoza had exceeded expectations in practice, improving his accuracy and command of the offence. ## A tough first assignment Mendoza's only NFL action so far came late in a Week 5 defeat by the New England Patriots, when he completed six of eight passes for 48 yards. His first start could hardly be harder: Seattle arrive as defending champions, while the Raiders sit at 4-5 and still in the playoff hunt. Spytek stressed the switch is not the club giving up on the season. "That is not the intention of this," he said. "We have a big game this week against the defending world champs, and we intend to attack it." ## What Mendoza brings Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy in his single season at Indiana, throwing for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns, completing 72% of his passes and leading the Hoosiers to their first national title. Cousins, who started nine games, was traded for a 2027 third-round pick, with Aidan O'Connell now Mendoza's backup, according to [NBC Sports](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/john-spytek-fernando-mendoza-passed-every-test-allowed-us-to-make-a-hard-decision).