Indiana's Fernando Mendoza credits his mother with being his guiding light and source of inspiration, stating she teaches him to stay optimistic even in the toughest times. The young quarterback has been on an incredible run, leading the undefeated Indiana Hoosiers to the College Football Playoff National Championship, and it's clear he's driven by a personal "why".
Mendoza, projected to be the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, revealed his mother's battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) during an interview on the Big Ten Network. Despite her struggles, she has been a constant source of support for Fernando and serves as a beacon of hope and resilience.
Fernando credits his mother Elsa Mendoza as his "why", saying she inspires him to stay positive and motivated, even when faced with adversity. He drew parallels between his own athletic struggles and his mother's determination to overcome her MS diagnosis, which has forced her into treatment for nearly two decades.
Elsa Mendoza penned an emotional letter to The Players Tribune expressing her love and gratitude for her son ahead of his Heisman Trophy win. Her courage and strength in the face of her condition have been a source of inspiration for Fernando, and he aims to channel that same determination onto the field.
As the Hoosiers prepare to face off against Miami in the National Championship Game, Fernando's mother will be there to support him. With Elsa Mendoza as his emotional anchor, he is confident to stay on track and bring home the championship title. His unwavering commitment to her and their shared values has become the driving force behind his incredible success.
While on live television, Fernando reflected on how his mother's positivity affects his own life, saying, "You know who cares if I had a bad game? If I had a bad lift, if I had a bad practice. I see her the way she fights and the way she overcomes a struggle, then wow, I gotta stay optimistic."
The bond between Fernando Mendoza and his mother Elsa is one of love, support, and inspiration, which has been evident throughout their incredible journey together.
Mendoza, projected to be the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, revealed his mother's battle with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) during an interview on the Big Ten Network. Despite her struggles, she has been a constant source of support for Fernando and serves as a beacon of hope and resilience.
Fernando credits his mother Elsa Mendoza as his "why", saying she inspires him to stay positive and motivated, even when faced with adversity. He drew parallels between his own athletic struggles and his mother's determination to overcome her MS diagnosis, which has forced her into treatment for nearly two decades.
Elsa Mendoza penned an emotional letter to The Players Tribune expressing her love and gratitude for her son ahead of his Heisman Trophy win. Her courage and strength in the face of her condition have been a source of inspiration for Fernando, and he aims to channel that same determination onto the field.
As the Hoosiers prepare to face off against Miami in the National Championship Game, Fernando's mother will be there to support him. With Elsa Mendoza as his emotional anchor, he is confident to stay on track and bring home the championship title. His unwavering commitment to her and their shared values has become the driving force behind his incredible success.
While on live television, Fernando reflected on how his mother's positivity affects his own life, saying, "You know who cares if I had a bad game? If I had a bad lift, if I had a bad practice. I see her the way she fights and the way she overcomes a struggle, then wow, I gotta stay optimistic."
The bond between Fernando Mendoza and his mother Elsa is one of love, support, and inspiration, which has been evident throughout their incredible journey together.
. Fernando's story just shows that family love can be a huge motivator. He's literally saying that if he sees his mom struggling with MS, he'll stay positive and keep going too 
. That's the kind of mindset we all need more of in our lives. I'm loving how proud Elsa is of her son and vice versa – it's beautiful to see their bond like that 
.
it's amazing to see how much influence Elsa Mendoza has on her son's life. the fact that she's going through MS treatment for almost 2 decades is just crazy, but she's still a super strong woman who keeps inspiring Fernando to stay optimistic and motivated. 
i think what's beautiful about their relationship is that it's not just about love, but also about supporting each other through life's struggles. and the way Elsa writes emotional letters to her son is truly heartwarming 
. i'm a little curious though, how does Fernando plan on channeling his mother's determination onto the field?
And btw, I'm kinda feeling bad for Fernando's mom, MS is no joke... 
How can she just "fight" it and overcome it like that? That sounds super tough. Does anyone know how she's doing now? 
i wish more ppl could learn from her strength and courage 
IT'S NO WONDER FERNANDO CAME BACK FROM ALL THOSE ATHLETIC STRUGGLES WITH SUCH DETERMINATION AND DRIVE!!! 
AND KNOW THAT HE'S GOT THE BEST PARTNER IN CRIME IN HIS MOM!!!
she's battling ms for years and still manages to keep her son on track and inspired? 
love, positivity, and determination are the real MVPs 
it's so inspiring to see her influence on her son's life & his success. multiple sclerosis can be tough, but she's still fighting & being super positive about it 
His dedication to staying optimistic even in tough times is something we can all learn from. I'm sending major love and support to Fernando, Elsa, and the whole Indiana Hoosiers team - you got this! 
it's beautiful to see her son channeling that same energy onto the field 
fernando's got a great role model in his mom, and i'm all about it 
) is driven by love and support, not just personal ambition 
. Fernando Mendoza's story is definitely a feel-good one that'll warm your heart 
Like, the idea that a kid's success is all about his personal "why" and having a supportive family to back him up... sounds like something our politicians would say, but in this case, it's actually coming from a real person. And let's be real, Fernando Mendoza's mom Elsa has been through some tough stuff with MS, which is like the ultimate test of wills. I mean, can you imagine having to deal with chronic pain and fatigue while also trying to support your child's dreams? It's like our politicians always saying we need to "stay positive" and "support each other"... but in this case, it's actually a real person showing us what that means. And Fernando's response when he says his mom is the one who makes him want to stay optimistic... even when things don't go well? That's just leadership, folks! 