‘Kirk [Cousins] for Sure Outshined Me’ — Fernando Mendoza Opens Up on Raiders’ Viral ‘Step Brothers’ Schedule Video

Las Vegas Raiders’ rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza is preparing to start life in the NFL as a first-overall draft pick, and he has veteran Kirk Cousins to mentor him. The duo featured together in the team’s schedule release video, entertaining fans across social media, and Mendoza gave his take on the project.

Fernando Mendoza Credits Kirk Cousins for Leadership in Raiders’ Schedule Video

Mendoza is already deeply embedded in the Raiders’ culture in Vegas, and the team’s schedule release video marked the young quarterback’s first project in the city. Being mentored by the likes of a 14-year vet in Cousins and a Super Bowl legend in Tom Brady is a massive new chapter, and he seems to have fun along the way.

Sports Illustrated asked the Heisman winner about his experience creating the video alongside Cousins.

“We actually didn’t really prepare,” Mendoza said. “However, Kirk for sure outshined me and helped me because he’s a little bit of a marketing vet, especially with the Netflix series documentary [Quarterback] that he did. So he was great. He took a little bit of a vet role as well in that production. It was a fun and funny thing we wanted to do for the fans. I was really glad that it came out well.”

For the video, the two quarterbacks starred in a parody of “Step Brothers,” in which they did a photoshoot together. The clip had many fans amused, offering a lighthearted insight into what’s actually a battle for the starting position under center.

Cousins, as the more experienced player, is expected to start the 2026 season, with Mendoza learning the ropes behind him. The franchise has a long-term plan for the Heisman winner, taking the most conservative route to ensure the rookie develops properly.

The Indiana product brings a solid college resume to the pros, including a national championship and National Championship Game MVP honors. According to PFSN’s CFB QB Impact Metric, Mendoza posted an impact score of 93.3, ranking second behind Diego Pavia.

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“He has the rifle arm strength, pre-snap and post-snap recognition, and keen anticipation to make NFL-level throws both up the seams and outside the hashes,” PFSN wrote in his scouting report before the draft. “There’s a degree of arm arrogance in Mendoza’s game that he’ll have to tamp down, but that’s a byproduct of him seeing those minuscule windows and having the fearlessness to take chances. He’s a pocket passer first [and] a great linear athlete.”

The Raiders are slowly building a long-term foundation, and it’ll be interesting to see how the pieces come together in 2026 with Mendoza and Cousins.