Westhampton Beach's Jonathan Mendoza signs with Saints
New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Jonathan Mendoza goes through drills during training camp in Metairie, La., on Wednesday. Credit: AP/Gerald Herbert
Long Island’s presence in the NFL just became a lot bigger.
Westhampton Beach native Jonathan Mendoza, a 6-9, 310-pound offensive tackle who went undrafted in the spring, inked a one-year contract with the Saints on Wednesday.
Mendoza played at Louisville last fall, starting all 13 games at right tackle. He spent the previous five years at Yale, earning All-Ivy League first-team honors in 2023.
“Jon was a great player for us at Westhampton, and we've been obviously following his career,” Westhampton football coach Bryan Schaumloffel said. "I've seen him grow as an athlete and a person, and this has been his goal since pretty much Day One at Yale. It's exciting to see him get a shot to pursue his dream.”
Mendoza is among the tallest players currently on NFL rosters. Colts tackle Jack Wilson is the tallest at 6-11. Three other offensive linemen are listed at 6-9: Dan Skipper (Lions), Savion Washington (Chargers) and Lorenz Metz (Buccaneers).
As Yale’s starting right tackle in 2022, Mendoza was named an All-Ivy League honorable mention as the Bulldogs led the conference in rushing and total offense. He appeared in only three games in 2021, and the Ivy League did not play a 2020 season because of COVID.
The leap from the FCS level to the ACC gave Mendoza a chance to prove he could compete against elite competition.
“That was kind of a big jump in him to go to Louisville, and not really knowing what to expect,” Schaumloffel said. “But that kind of shows what kind of kid he is. He wants to play against the best, and he wants to showcase his abilities against the best players and the best competition.
“And I think that really prepared him for where he is right now, hopefully getting a shot at making an NFL roster.”
Mendoza, wearing No. 79 for the Saints, attended the Bills’ rookie minicamp in May.
In New Orleans, he reunites with wide receiver Mason Tipton, his Yale teammate from 2019-23. Two of Mendoza’s former Louisville teammates are also Saints rookies: quarterback Tyler Shough, the No. 40 overall pick in April, and cornerback Quincy Riley, a fourth-round pick.
A Newsday All-Long Island second-team selection in 2018, Mendoza was part of Westhampton’s Long Island Class III championship-winning squad in 2017.
He joins his high school teammate Dylan Laube, a second-year running back and kick returner for the Raiders, as former Westhampton players in the NFL.
“It's great for our program and our community to have the potential of two players playing in the NFL,” Schaumloffel said. “It's great. I don't know if there's another school on Long Island that might have two players potentially in the NFL right now.”
Ben Dickson is Newsday Sports' general assignment reporter. He joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
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