The world is just beginning to learn about Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 NFL draft pick that shared his Heisman Trophy with Dominican priests over Christmas.

The more we learn, the more we love, especially when it comes to the amazing relationship he has with his mother, Elsa. 

In a letter written to her son, whom she affectionately calls her “gentle giant,” we see a real glimpse into why he considers his mother his “light” and his “why.”

Their bond is so strong that on the night of the 2026 NFL Draft in April, Mendoza chose to skip the official event in Pittsburgh to stay home in Miami with her. Having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2008, Elsa is confined to a wheelchair, so travel is difficult, and he prioritized being by her side the moment he was selected as the No. 1 overall pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. 

To coincide with his entry into the NFL, the quarterback officially launched the Mendoza Family Fund in partnership with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. The QB jump-started the fund with a personal pledge of $500,000 from his future NFL earnings, and the foundation is committed to raising more than $1 million in the next three years.

“Fernando Mendoza is a powerful example of commitment to family and making a difference,” Dr. Tim Coetzee, president and CEO of the National MS Society, told the Register.

“The love they showed for their mother, Elsa, then, and now, with the family partnering with us for the Mendoza Family Fund, shows an enormous commitment to finding a cure for this disease that affects more than 1 million people in the U.S., for which we couldn’t be more grateful.”

Elsa shared her own witness of son Fernando’s touching care and concern for her in the open letter she wrote for the Player's Tribune in December: 

“Honestly: It will never be easy. ... But you’ve made it so much easier. When you have to carry me up the stairs ... you’ve never once looked away. You’ve never once treated me like I’m embarrassing, or deficient, or anything other than someone you love.”

Elsa reflected on their deep connection and how he has supported her through her health challenges:

“You’ve made it so much easier. And you’ve done that in the sweetest, strongest, most Fernando way possible — by making me feel the exact opposite of embarrassed. You’ve made me feel seen.”

The solidarity with the matriarch of the Mendoza family runs deep, and it’s all about the little things. While fans in the stadium would stand and cheer during big plays, Fernando Sr. often remained seated during the 2025 football season. He later explained that he chose to stay seated next to his wife so he could remain at eye level with Elsa, ensuring she never felt alone or “left behind” in the celebration.

As the Register has covered extensively, Fernando is a devout Catholic who speaks courageously about his faith. He also doesn’t shy away from speaking candidly about his mother’s influence on his life and success, including in his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech: 

“People see the touchdown passes, but I see my mother’s strength. My mother is my light, my everything. ... She’s the most caring and positive person I know, and I’ll keep doing everything I can to support her.”

The former Indiana Hoosiers quarterback and 2026 NFL No. 1 overall pick reiterated her impact on his life on Jan. 19, 2026, following Indiana’s victory over the Miami Hurricanes in the National Championship game.

“My mother is my light, my everything, and she’s my why. A lot of football players talk about who’s their ‘why’ — my mother is my why. To see her fight and overcome the struggle with the optimism that she has ... she’s been a great role model.”

Fernando Mendoza is much more than a talented football player. The world is simply catching up to what his mother has known all along. 

As Elsa so poignantly wrote:

“I’m so proud of not all the successes on the field, but of who you are. Your kindness, your humility, your faith — I just can’t say enough. ... I’m just so proud to be your mom.”