How mum's struggle inspired Mendoza's rise to top NFL draft pick
Fernando Mendoza was the first pick in the NFL Draft. His mother, who lives with MS, inspired him to make a meteoric rise after being ranked 2,149th in the class of 2022, when he left high school.
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Notable Quotes
"This is your trophy as much as it is mine."
— Fernando Mendoza , Athlete
"You taught me that toughness doesn't need to be loud."
— Fernando Mendoza , Athlete
"one of the biggest issues I had to overcome as my condition first worsened wasn't just the condition itself."
— Elsa Mendoza , Activist
"you've never once looked away. You've never once treated me like I'm embarrassing."
— Elsa Mendoza , Activist
"This is your trophy as much as it is mine. You’ve always been my biggest fan. You’re my light, you’re my why, and my biggest supporter."
— Fernando Mendoza , Athlete
"Alberto and I play football not for ourselves, not for fulfillment and satisfaction of ourselves. We have a lot of whys why we do it for. One of the whys is our mom."
— Fernando Mendoza , Athlete
"Your mom has this degenerative disease."
— Elsa Mendoza , Activist
"I’ve been the underdog. However, my mom has never let me think that way."
— Fernando Mendoza , Athlete
"It definitely does not define who I am."
— Elsa Mendoza , Activist
"I’m always in awe of how strong she is on a daily basis."
— Fernando Mendoza Sr. , Other
Key People
Alberto Mendoza is the brother of Fernando Mendoza and a co-advocate for multiple sclerosis awareness.
Elsa Mendoza is the mother of Fernando Mendoza and a multiple sclerosis advocate.
Fernando Mendoza is a quarterback who won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to its first national championship.
Fernando Mendoza Sr. is the father of NFL player Fernando Mendoza.
Tags
All Coverage
Fernando Mendoza was the first pick in the NFL Draft. His mother, who lives with MS, inspired him to make a meteoric rise after being ranked 2,149th in the class of 2022, when he left high school.
Fernando Mendoza, selected first overall by the Las Vegas Raiders, credits his mother, Elsa, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, as his inspiration and support.
An exploration of how Elsa Mendoza's battle with multiple sclerosis influenced her son, Fernando Mendoza, leading to his selection as the NFL's first overall pick.
Fernando Mendoza, the 2026 NFL Draft's first pick, shares his deep connection with his mother, Elsa, who has been battling multiple sclerosis since 2008.
A detailed account of how Elsa Mendoza's struggle with multiple sclerosis influenced her son, Fernando Mendoza, culminating in his selection as the NFL's first overall pick.
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