Career
In 2006, Fernandez was voted one of the Canadian Football League"s Top 50 players (#42) of the league"s modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.
Fernandez was a standout wide receiver for Andrew Hill High School in San Jose, California, where he picked up his famous nickname "Swervin" Mervyn" from the team"s quarterback. Following high school, Fernandez played at De Anza College Junior College in Cupertino, California, before finishing his college career at nearby San José State University. lieutenant was at San José State that Oakland Raider"s staff members took notice of the 6"3", 205 pound, speedy wide receiver, and the Raiders eventually made Fernandez their 10th round pick in the 1983 NFL Draft.
Fernandez spent his entire six-year Canadian Football League career (1982-1986, 1994) with the British Columbia Lions.
Fernandez joined the Lions in 1982, and made an immediate impact, finishing his rookie season with over 1,000 receiving yards (1,046), and helping his team to 9-7 record. Fernandez finished the season with 95 catches and 1,727 yards for an 18.2 yards per reception average, along with 15 touchdowns.
In November, 2006, Fernandez was voted one of the Canadian Football League"s top 50 players (#42) of the league"s modern era by Canadian sports network TSN.
Fernandez spent his entire 6-year NFL career (1987-1992) with one team: the Los Angeles Raiders. During that span, Fernandez played in 86 games and amassed 209 catches for 3,764 yards and 19 touchdowns.
While Fernandez never made the Pro Bowl, he did leave his mark on the Raiders’ record books
His 209 career catches are 10th most by any receiver in Raiders’ history. His 3,764 career receiving yards ranks him number 8 all-time. His 18.01 average yards per catch for his career is first among any receiver to wear the Raiders" Silver and Black.
In 1988, Fernandez led NFL receivers in average yards per catch (260).
Arguably, Fernandez"s finest year was 1989, when he made 57 catches for 1,069 yards and 9 touchdowns, leading all Raiders’ receivers in almost every major category, and becoming only the sixth Raider to gain over 1,000 receiving yards in a season. Fernandez currently lives in Morgan Hill, California and works as a sales representative.
He is also an avid sport fisherman.