Arriving as a transfer, Fernando Mendoza went on to win the Heisman Trophy and make history at Indiana, showcasing both his talent and the impact of Curt Cignetti’s coaching guidance. While Mendoza has credited his brother for the sacrifices made behind his rise, the person who gave him confidence and belief in himself above all was his mother

“Mami, this is your trophy as much as it is mine,” said Mendoza, paying tribute to his mother while accepting the Heisman Trophy.

Now, get to know the person behind one of your favorite quarterback’s success stories.

Meet Fernando Mendoza’s mother: Elsa Mendoza

Elsa Mendoza is not just the mother of the Indiana QB, nor is she only the wife of Fernando Mendoza Sr.; she has her own identity. She played tennis at Miami, and her athletic background, along with her husband’s, helped shape Fernando’s competitive mindset.

His father won a gold medal in rowing at the 1987 Junior World Championships. While both parents have been Mendoza’s biggest supporters throughout his journey, Elsa once hoped her son would follow her path and play tennis.

But Fernando chose to pursue football, and he’s made waves by leading IU to back-to-back CFP wins in his first season. Behind the curtain, his mother played a huge role in pushing the QB, something he publicly acknowledged during his Heisman speech.

Top Stories

NFL Announces Punishment for Josh Allen’s Offense After ‘Violent Gesture’

Amid Brooks Koepka’s Appeal, PGA Tour Reinstates Another Ex-LIV Pro Without Punishment

Jordan Love Confirms Feelings on Matt LaFleur’s Firing Rumors After Contradicting HC Over Bears Loss

Aryna Sabalenka’s Kissing Gesture Gets Brutally Ignored by Ukrainian Opponent at Brisbane International

PGA Tour Pro Rejecting 8-figure LIV Golf Offer Forces Re-Signing of Sacked Golfer

Tiger Woods’s GF Vanessa Trump Wasn’t On Board With Daughter Kai’s New Family Addition

Elsa Mendoza’s athletic background and college tennis career

Elsa Mendoza carved her own path long before the spotlight found her son. As a former University of Miami tennis player, she balanced competition with academics and earned two degrees along the way. She never chased a pro career, but the discipline stuck.

Last December, she pulled back the curtain in an emotional Players’ Tribune letter, revealing she once hoped Fernando would choose tennis.

“My dream was for you to play tennis like I did,” she wrote, while noting that she’d run him through her college tennis drills when he was a child.

It highlights Elsa’s role in nurturing Fernando’s passion for sports. But his Heisman speech stood out even more when he spoke in Spanish to honor his grandparents, sparking interest in his family’s ethnic background.

What are Elsa Mendoza’s ethnicity and nationality?

Elsa Mendoza’s roots run deep. She is of Cuban descent, with parents who were born and raised in Cuba before building a new life in the United States. Born and raised in Miami, she spent part of her early 20s in Boston, then returned home to South Florida.

While she is an American citizen, her Cuban heritage formed a foundation that shaped both mother and son. But her life hasn’t been as smooth as the support she’s given Fernando

What disease does Fernando Mendoza’s mother, Elsa Mendoza, have?

Elsa Mendoza’s journey includes a battle far bigger than football. She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis nearly 18 years ago, a disease that attacks the central nervous system and now requires her to use a wheelchair. For years, she kept it quiet while Fernando and Alberto were young.

“You were so young, and I didn’t want you to worry,” she wrote in The Players’ Tribune.

That changed in 2020, when her condition worsened and traveling to games became impossible. Still, telling her sons wasn’t easy.

“No amount of years could have prepared me for that conversation,” recalled Elsa.

But Fernando met the moment with grace, and she praised him for making her feel strong, not fragile.

“You’ve made me feel seen,” she wrote, describing how he gave full game debriefs. “You never once looked away.”

That bond turned into purpose. As Fernando and Alberto’s football profiles rose, so did their advocacy. Now, the brothers launched MS fundraisers through the National MS Society, raising more than $100,000 by early January 2026.

“My mom means the world to me,” wrote Fernando. “I’ll keep doing everything I can to support her and others living with MS.”

Honestly, while football gave them a platform, love gave them a mission.

What has Fernando Mendoza said about his mother in interviews?

He calls his mother his “idol,” his “biggest warrior.” Because watching her fight every day taught him to never take a moment for granted.

On the Heisman stage, he made it clear who shaped him first. He called her sacrifices, courage, and love his “first playbook”, a guide he’ll carry for the rest of his life.

“You’ve always been my biggest fan. You’re my life. You’re my why,” said the IU QB. “You’ve always been my biggest supporter. Your sacrifices, courage, love, my first playbook, my playbook I’m going to carry through my side my entire life.

“You taught me that toughness doesn’t need to be loud. It can be quiet and strong. It’s choosing hope. It’s believing in yourself when the world doesn’t give you much reason to. Together, you and I are rewriting what people think is possible. I love you.”

We wish his love for Elsa continues to grow, and that she finds even more happiness in her life.