Who Is Elsa Mendoza? Inside the Inspiring Story of Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza’s Mother

Elsa Mendoza has emerged as an inspiring figure in college football as the mother of Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza, who is leading Indiana football in the College Football Playoff national championship game against Miami on Monday, January 19.

Beyond her presence on the national stage, Elsa Mendoza’s story is one of resilience and strength. She lives with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic condition that affects the central nervous system and has required her to use a wheelchair. According to reports, Elsa was diagnosed with MS nearly 18 years ago, and her condition worsened about five years ago following a COVID-19 diagnosis. In response to her battle with the disease, her sons Fernando and Alberto Mendoza—both quarterbacks for Indiana—have actively raised funds to support MS research and awareness.

Elsa Mendoza, a former tennis player at the University of Miami, has spoken about how her athletic background shaped the values she passed on to her children. In the week leading up to the Heisman Trophy ceremony, she penned an emotional letter to Fernando in The Players’ Tribune, reflecting on their bond and early years together. She wrote:

“You’re a teammate at heart. I’ve been lucky enough to know that for a much longer time than most people….. and not just because I’m your mom. But because I feel like I was your very first teammate.

“… (M)aybe this is silly to say about a newborn, but to me you were more like my buddy. And it’s like we were each dealing with our own exciting/scary new thing. And the way we got through it was together.”

Fernando Mendoza later honored his mother during his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech on December 13, calling her his greatest source of strength and inspiration. He said:

“Mami, this is your trophy as much as it is mine,” he said. “You’ve always been my biggest fan. You’re my life. You’re my why. 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.”

Elsa Mendoza has also shared personal details about her life, noting that she moved to Boston at the age of 25, where she later became pregnant. While her exact age remains undisclosed, her eldest son Fernando is 22. The Mendoza family has deep Cuban roots, with both sides of the grandparents emigrating from Cuba before settling in Miami.

Fernando’s father, Fernando Mendoza IV, is a pediatric emergency director at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. Fernando and his younger brother Alberto are both quarterbacks for Indiana, with Fernando serving as the starter and Alberto as his primary backup.

As Indiana competes on college football’s biggest stage, Elsa Mendoza’s journey continues to resonate as a powerful story of perseverance, motherhood, and quiet strength behind a championship run.