Fernando Mendoza — the potential future quarterback of the Las Vegas Raiders — captured the hearts of football fans everywhere during Indiana’s incredible 2025 season. The Hoosiers tied an FBS record with 16 wins, going 16-0 and winning the national championship. Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy and is widely expected to be the pick for the Raiders at No. 1 overall.
Mendoza’s a major success story, arriving in the transfer portal via Cal last year and making huge strides in his development. One of the coaches credited with Mendoza’s growth is Indiana co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Chandler Whitmer. He started his coaching career as a grad assistant at Yale and also spent time with Ohio State and Clemson before jumping to the NFL. Whitmer was an offensive assistant with the Chargers for three seasons and spent 2024 as the Falcons’ passing game coordinator, moving back to the college level last year to shepherd Mendoza.
Whitmer was seen as a prime candidate to jump back to the NFL and potentially even the Raiders, though that fit is no longer an option.
The Las Vegas Raiders Missed Out on Pairing QB Fernando Mendoza with QB Coach Chandler Whitmer Again
GettyMIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JANUARY 19: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Indiana Hoosiers dives for a fourth quarter touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on January 19, 2026 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Whitmer had significant interest across the league, and was an option for a spot on the Raiders’ offensive staff. Unfortunately for Las Vegas, he’s made a different choice. On Tuesday, the Buccaneers hired Whitmer to be their quarterbacks coach, per NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero. He’ll work with Bucs QB Baker Mayfield with the chance to continue working his way up through the NFL’s coaching ranks.
The Raiders lost out on the opportunity to continue pairing their presumed quarterback of the future in Mendoza with Whitmer, but now Mendoza will get the chance to work with a different offensive staff in Las Vegas. There’s a benefit to working with a variety of coaches throughout a player’s career — though the Raiders will be hoping they can provide him with stability and continuity on their offensive staff.
The Las Vegas Raiders Will Hope to Pair HC Klint Kubiak with QB Fernando Mendoza for Years to Come
The Raiders were the second-to-last team in the NFL to hire a head coach this cycle. This is because they had keyed in on Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak early in the process, but with Seattle playing so deep into the postseason, the Raiders were forced to slow play their interview process. Even now, Kubiak isn’t officially hired, and can’t sign on the dotted line until the conclusion of the Super Bowl.
But when he does, the Raiders will get to watch him work with Mendoza. It’ll be up to Kubiak to ease his transition from college to the NFL and to create an environment he can succeed in early. Based on Kubiak’s prior work, Mendoza’s development is in good hands.
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