Mervyn Fernandez facts for kids

Mervyn L. Fernandez, born on December 29, 1959, is a former professional football player from the United States. He was known by his cool nickname, "Swervin' Mervyn." Mervyn played as a wide receiver for two major leagues: the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the BC Lions and the National Football League (NFL) with the Los Angeles Raiders.

Fernandez was a top player in the CFL, earning the title of CFL All-Star twice in 1984 and 1985. He is also honored on the BC Lions Wall of Fame. In 2003, he was chosen for the BC Lions All-Time Dream Team as a wide receiver. Later, in 2006, he was named one of the CFL's Top 50 players of the modern era by TSN. His amazing career led to him being inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Early Life and College Football

Mervyn Fernandez grew up in San Jose, California. He was a star wide receiver at Andrew Hill High School. It was there that his team's quarterback gave him his famous nickname, "Swervin' Mervyn."

After high school, Mervyn played college football at DeAnza Junior College. He then went on to play for San José State University. While at San José State, coaches from the Los Angeles Raiders noticed his speed and skill. He was 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighed 205 pounds. The Raiders later picked him in the 10th round of the 1983 NFL draft.

Playing in the CFL (Canadian Football League)

Mervyn Fernandez spent most of his professional football career in the CFL. He played for the BC Lions for six seasons, from 1982 to 1986, and then again in 1994. He made a big splash in his first year, 1982, catching passes for over 1,000 yards. This helped his team achieve a winning record.

For his great performance, Mervyn won the CFL Western Division Most Outstanding Rookie award. He was also a finalist for the CFL's overall Most Outstanding Rookie award. After two more seasons where he gained over 1,000 receiving yards, Fernandez became a key player for the BC Lions. He helped them win the Grey Cup championship in 1985.

In that 1985 season, Mervyn had 95 catches for an incredible 1,727 yards and 15 touchdowns. Even though he was injured and couldn't play in the Grey Cup game, the Lions won 37–24. After this victory, Fernandez became the first player from the BC Lions to win the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award.

Mervyn was a CFL All-Star in both 1984 and 1985. He is also a member of the BC Lions Wall of Fame. After the 1986 CFL season, Al Davis, the owner of the Raiders, convinced Mervyn to join the NFL. In 2003, the BC Lions celebrated their 50th anniversary. Mervyn was voted onto their All-Time Dream Team as a wide receiver. In 2006, he was ranked number 42 among the CFL's top 50 players of the modern era.

Playing in the NFL (National Football League)

Mervyn Fernandez played his entire six-year NFL career with the Los Angeles Raiders. He was with them from 1987 to 1992. During his time with the Raiders, he played in 86 games. He caught 209 passes for 3,764 yards and scored 19 touchdowns.

While Mervyn never made it to the Pro Bowl, he set some impressive records for the Raiders. His 209 career catches rank him among the top 10 receivers in Raiders' history. His 3,764 receiving yards place him 8th all-time for the team. He also holds the record for the highest average yards per catch (18.01) for any receiver who played for the Raiders. In 1988, Fernandez led all NFL receivers in average yards per catch, with an amazing 26.0 yards per catch.

Many people consider 1989 to be Mervyn's best year in the NFL. He made 57 catches for 1,069 yards and scored 9 touchdowns. He led the Raiders in almost all receiving categories that year. He was also only the sixth Raider to gain over 1,000 receiving yards in a single season.

Life After Football

Today, Mervyn Fernandez lives in Morgan Hill, California. He works as a sales representative. He also loves to go fishing as a hobby. His son, Joe Fernandez, also played wide receiver in college at Fresno State University. Joe tried out for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks in 2007 but did not make the final team roster.