Fernando Mendoza’s Family Spotlight: Get to Know the IU Quarterback’s Mom
The 2025 Heisman Trophy recipient, Fernando Mendoza, has elevated the Indiana University football team to remarkable achievements — all thanks to the unwavering support from his family.
“My lifelong teammate, Alberto, my brother, my closest confidant. The one I trust more than anyone else to get through a tough day, tough play, tough game, I love you bro,” Fernando expressed during his Heisman acceptance speech in December 2025. “Thank you for always being honest with me, regardless of the situation.”
He emphasized his family’s “unconditional love” before speaking directly to his mother, Elsa, during a notably emotional moment.
“These are the individuals who shaped me long before football had a say,” Fernando stated. “Mami, this trophy is as much yours as it is mine. You’ve always been my greatest supporter. You are my light, my motivation, my strongest ally.”
He added, “You taught me that strength doesn’t have to be loud; it can be calm and resolute. It’s about choosing hope. It’s believing in oneself when the world offers little encouragement. Together, we’re redefining what’s achievable.”
As the Indiana University Hoosiers football team celebrated their 2025 success — finishing undefeated and claiming the Big Ten Championship for the first time since 1967 — fans became intrigued by quarterback Fernando and his tight bond with his family.
Keep scrolling for more details:
Who Is Fernando Mendoza’s Dad?
The IU quarterback’s father, Fernando Mendoza Sr., was also an athlete, having competed in rowing at Brown University before embarking on a medical career. Fernando Sr. is now an emergency medicine specialist with the Nicklaus Children’s Pediatric Specialists group in Miami.
Who Is Fernando Mendoza’s Mom?
In her Players Tribune letter to Fernando, published in December 2025, Elsa Mendoza shared that she was a tennis player at the University of Miami. Initially, she hoped her eldest son would take a similar path, but she acknowledged that Fernando had other aspirations in college football.
Elsa also opened up about her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in the same letter.
“I was diagnosed about 18 years ago, but you never knew that. You and Alberto were so young, and I was managing well… I didn’t want you to worry. It felt like an overwhelming burden to impose on my sweet boys,” she recounted, adding that she had to explain her condition to Fernando and Alberto following her illness with Covid-19. “No amount of time could have prepared me for how challenging that conversation turned out to be.”
Elsa mentioned that Fernando made her feel “visible” even during her treatment for MS.
“You’ve never once regarded me as less than someone you love and support,” she wrote. “And despite my condition worsening, and as our lives evolve around that reality, you continue to make me feel like I am still my true self.”
Does Fernando Mendoza Have a Brother?
The IU quarterback has two younger brothers. Alberto Mendoza plays alongside him as the Hoosiers’ backup quarterback and filled in for him during several games in the 2025 season.
The youngest brother, Max, aspires to become a sports broadcaster.
