Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza stepped out of the tunnel at Hard Rock Stadium on Monday night, not only as a Heisman Trophy winner but also with a national title at stake. However, what truly mattered to him was that his mom was watching. He has often described her as his “why.”
Who is Elsa Mendoza? Meeting Fernando Mendoza's mom.
Described as his biggest fan, Elsa Mendoza is a former University of Miami tennis player who has become a quick-rising star during her son's rise to the Heisman and throughout Indiana's post-season journey. Elsa has lived with multiple sclerosis for nearly two decades and now uses a wheelchair, a daily battle her son credits for shaping his toughness and perspective.
Mendoza and his younger brother, Alberto, have turned their platform into a fundraising engine for MS research, helping generate more than $150,000 through campaigns tied to the National MS Society.
Fernando Mendoza: “My mother is my ‘why’, fighting to overcome her struggles is so inspirational” pic.twitter.com/KOX8VPaGY7
— Trey Wallace (@TreyWallace_) January 17, 2026
After winning the Heisman, Mendoza dedicated the win to his mom, Elsa, calling her his "light" and "my why." In media availabilities this week, he said that every snap and drive during this week's title push was played for her as she watches from the stands.
In a Players' Tribune article, Elsa wrote a letter to her son, Fernando, detailing her journey with multiple sclerosis. "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."
"Whether you win the trophy or not, though, and whether you win or lose in the playoffs — if there's one thought I want to leave you with, it's this: Your accomplishments will NEVER impact how proud of you I am."