LinkedIn Launches NFL Draft Campaign with Fernando Mendoza

Categories: Company News
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LinkedIn Corporate Communications

Key Insights

  • LinkedIn released a new NFL Draft ad featuring quarterback Fernando Mendoza, centered on a real-time LinkedIn profile update  

  • The spot builds on familiar LinkedIn behavior – updating your profile, sharing progress and building your network 

  • The partnership is rooted in Mendoza’s existing LinkedIn presence on LinkedIn, where he documents his journey and builds his professional identity 

  • The campaign reinforces LinkedIn’s as the place where career updates are shared as they happen 

Turning a Career Milestone into a Cultural Moment

The NFL Draft is one of the most visible professional transitions, with millions watching as athletes enter the next stage of their careers. 

Building on its partnership with Fernando Mendoza, LinkedIn released a new spot timed to the NFL Draft, capturing that transition in the moment. 

In the ad, Mendoza appears in a post-draft interview and pauses mid-conversation to update his LinkedIn profile – switching from #OpenToWork to his new role as quarterback. 

A familiar action meets a career-defining moment, playing out on one of the biggest stages in sports. The idea is simple – career moments don’t just happen – they’re shared on LinkedIn. 

Showing Up for Career Moments That Matter

The campaign reflects real member behavior: every day, people around the world update their profiles, build new skills and connect with others. 

“Fernando has been intentional about his presence on LinkedIn from the start – sharing his journey, building his brand, and connecting with his community,” said Heather Freeland, Chief Brand Officer at LinkedIn. “With this series of spots, we wanted to show that LinkedIn is about those big professional moments — like getting a new job — but it’s also where careers take shape over time.  And Fernando is the perfect person to demonstrate that as his own career as a professional quarterback takes off."

From #OpenToWork to Kickoff

LinkedIn’s partnership with Mendoza builds on how he was already using the platform – including signaling he was “Open to Work” ahead of the Draft. 

By bringing his network along, he reflects how a new generation is using LinkedIn to document career moves in real time – before, during, and after the big moment. 

For more insights and to join the conversation on LinkedIn: Fernando Mendoza, NFL Quarterback