Fernando Mendoza Files Trademarks Ahead of Expected No. 1 Draft Selection

By Josh Gerben, Esq.

Published: March 31, 2026 Published: March 31, 2026

Fernando Mendoza hasn’t taken an NFL snap yet.

But the presumptive No. 1 pick is already making business moves. On March 27, he filed two trademark applications with the USPTO:

1. ‘Fernando Mendoza’
2. ‘Mendoza’

Both applications identify just a single product that he claims will be sold using the names: athletic apparel.

Mendoza’s move follows a similar strategy by quarterback Caleb Williams, who recently filed trademark applications tied to his nickname, ‘Iceman.’

Unlike Williams’ filings, which center on a nickname (and have drawn some controversy), Mendoza’s applications focus squarely on his given name. This is a type of filing that is generally more straightforward from a trademark perspective.

Still, the filings reflect a broader shift in the business of sports. Where trademark protection was once an afterthought reserved for established professionals, it is now becoming routine for elite prospects even before they hear their names called on draft night.

If approved and ultimately registered, Mendoza’s trademarks would provide him with a “presumption of nationwide ownership” over the marks in connection with the listed goods. That status carries practical and legal advantages. In a dispute, a federal registration can strengthen a trademark owner’s position in court, reducing the burden of proving ownership and increasing the damages available. 

It also expands enforcement tools beyond the courtroom. Online marketplaces and social media platforms, including Amazon, Etsy, and others, often give preferential treatment to trademark holders when responding to infringement claims, making it easier to remove unauthorized merchandise.

For a player expected to generate immediate commercial interest, those protections can prove critical.

How do Mendoza’s trademark filings compare to others?

Here’s where I think this gets interesting.

Mendoza did the right thing by filing. If you’re about to become the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, your name is about to become a business overnight. Getting trademark applications on file before that happens is just smart.

But these filings are… thin.

Both applications only cover one product: athletic apparel. That’s it.

And that matters more than people realize.

Trademark rights are tied to the goods and services you claim in your application. So if someone starts selling ‘Mendoza’ branded hoodies, he’s in a strong position to shut that down. But if a third party launches ‘Mendoza’ branded cologne, jewelry, or even a content channel, those uses may fall outside the scope of what he has actually protected with the federal registration.

Could he still fight it? Sure. But now it could be a harder, more expensive fight.

This is where you see the difference between a basic filing and a more strategic one.

He could have included additional categories, such as:

• Live appearances as a sports figure
• Digital content or media
• Broader merchandise categories

To be clear, a trademark application can only be filed for goods and/or services that the trademark owner has a “bona fide intent” to offer under the trademark. So you can’t just claim anything you want. 

In order for the trademark to register, the USPTO will require a trademark owner to prove they are offering all the goods/services listed in the application. That said, in this case, perhaps there could have been room to expand the scope of these applications.

When you compare this to filings from other athletes, like Caleb Williams, the contrast is noticeable. Those filings tend to be more built out, covering multiple verticals tied to the athlete’s brand.

So yes, Mendoza is ahead of the game by filing early.

But he’s not fully maximizing the opportunity.

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Josh Gerben, Esq.

Josh Gerben, Esq. is a nationally recognized trademark attorney and the founder of Gerben IP. Since launching the firm in 2008, he has overseen the registration of over 10,000 trademarks and handled over 1,500 trademark disputes. Josh's practice focuses on building and defending global trademark portfolios for clients. These clients include entrepreneurs, private equity-backed businesses, athletes, celebrities, and public companies. Frequently quoted by major media outlets like CNBC, CNN, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, Josh is widely regarded as a leading authority in trademark law.