The NFL Draft is a time for new beginnings, but for one former Indiana quarterback, it's the end of a historic, four-decade-long era. Babe Laufenberg, the Hoosiers' signal-caller selected 168th overall in 1983, is officially—and hilariously—handing off his long-held title to the man of the hour, Fernando Mendoza.
A Playful Passing of the Torch
With the 2026 NFL Draft just hours away, Laufenberg has taken to social media with a mix of mock mourning and genuine excitement. The former Washington draft pick has been counting down the days until his record as the highest-drafted Indiana quarterback is shattered. "48 hours for my 43-year reign to end," Laufenberg recently posted. "An appropriately gloomy, rainy day here in North Texas. Even the sky is crying... I will be passing the torch, hoping not to burn Fernando Mendoza's passing hand."
This lighthearted farewell underscores a seismic shift in Indiana football fortunes. Laufenberg's career, which included seven NFL starts, is a far cry from the meteoric rise of Fernando Mendoza. After leading the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and their first-ever national championship, the Heisman Trophy winner isn't just expected to go in the first round—he's the consensus top pick, destined for the Las Vegas Raiders.
From Obscurity to the Top of the Board
The contrast between the two quarterbacks couldn't be starker. Laufenberg's Hoosier teams managed just eight wins over his final two seasons, a stark contrast to Mendoza's championship glory. While Laufenberg joked on social media about whether Mendoza might "drop to #169," the reality is a foregone conclusion. Mendoza's record-breaking draft moment is less a possibility and more a ceremonial event waiting to happen Thursday night.
Laufenberg has embraced the inevitable with grace and wit, comparing his falling record to other legendary sports milestones. "There are records always thought to be unbreakable," he mused. "Wilt Chamberlain's 100 points. (Joe) DiMaggio's 56 game hit streak. And The Bambino selected at 168. I guess all records truly are meant to be broken."
This story is a testament to how far Indiana's program has come. For decades, Laufenberg's late-round selection stood as a quirky footnote. Now, the program produces the most coveted player in the entire draft, a shift highlighted on Kiper's Final 2026 Big Board. Mendoza's 41-touchdown, title-winning campaign has rewritten the school's history books and reset expectations for what's possible in Bloomington.
A New Legacy Begins
As the draft clock ticks down, the focus isn't on if Mendoza will break the record, but on what he'll do next. The pressure of being the No. 1 overall pick is immense, but Mendoza has shown a poise that extends beyond the field, exemplified by reports he's putting family first during the draft spectacle.
For Babe Laufenberg, his long run at the top of Indiana's draft quarterback list ends not with bitterness, but with a playful social media salute. His self-deprecating countdown has provided a charming human element to the corporate machinery of draft week. When Commissioner Roger Goodell steps to the podium Thursday night, a 43-year-old record will officially be retired, and a new era for Indiana football will dawn in Las Vegas. The torch isn't just being passed; it's being launched into the stratosphere.
