The NFL Draft is not until April, but Fernando Mendoza already has a new team.
And the Heisman Trophy winner from Indiana announced his latest move in the most appropriate way, at least for him.
The former Hoosier used LinkedIn to tell the world he is now part of the Taco Bell family.
Taco Bell signs Fernando Mendoza
Mendoza has had a whirlwind 12 months to say the least.
Last winter, he left Cal-Berkeley to become the quarterback at Indiana.
Then all he did was lead the Hoosiers to their first Big Ten championship since 1967 and become the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner.
After that, he headlined a run through the College Football Playoff that resulted in the Hooisers winning their first national title in the sport.
READ MORE: 5 reasons IU’s championship was so insane
He did so with an “aw shucks” interview demeanor that captivated the country, and he also amused many of the masses by utilizing LinkedIn to chronicle it all.
Knowing that, it only made sense for the business major to share his next big endorsement deal on the social media site for business.
“I’m incredibly honored to step into a new role as a Franchise Player at Taco Bell!” Mendoza wrote on the site.
“It’s a privilege to take on a role that carries both responsibility and possibility, and to do so at a brand that has never been afraid to push culture forward.
“This role isn’t about a title—it’s about showing up for the team, the brand, and the fans who make Taco Bell what it is.
“I’m excited for what’s ahead, for the ideas we haven’t cracked yet, and for the work still to be done.
“Just getting started (taco emoji).”
The announcement seems to be going over well.
More than 17,000 users have left reactions and the 678 comments as of this writing included a response from Taco Bell CEO Sean Tresvant.
“Talk about a championship team… congrats and excited for you to be part of the Taco Bell team!” Tresvant wrote.
What’s next for Mendoza?
After declaring he will forego his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft, Mendoza is the favorite to be the No. 1 pick in April.
That is currently held by the Las Vegas Raiders, who are widely expected to use the pick to make him their franchise quarterback.
For now, he lists under “Experience” on LinkedIn as Taco Bell Franchise Player as his current job after wrapping up one year and one month as an Indiana student athlete and two years and eight months at Cal.
(He also had internships at Newmark and ACRE Investment Company, but those seem to have gotten less attention.)
