Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza shares touching childhood photo in tribute to mom Elsa battling MS
Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza is about more than football.
While the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft was leading Indiana to a national championship last season, the story of Mendoza’s mother, Elsa, was inspiring countless sports fans.
Elsa Mendoza was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2008 and is still battling the autoimmune disease. She’s confined to a wheelchair, but that hasn’t kept her from attending as many of Mendoza’s games as possible.
Elsa celebrated her birthday on Thursday. Fernando commemorated this with a touching photo he posted on Instagram, which showed him as a child sitting on his mother’s lap in front of a birthday cake.
“Happy birthday Mami ❤️,” the post was captioned.
Fernando’s parents have to make some tough choices when deciding where to spend their weekends. Fernando’s younger brother, Alberto, is Georgia Tech’s starting quarterback.
Since Alberto is starting and Fernando is the Raiders’ backup, perhaps Elsa and her husband, Fernando Sr., are more inclined to watch Alberto’s games.
But Raiders fans can surely expect to see a lot of the Mendoza family in the future once Fernando takes the starting quarterback job.
- Admin
- USC suspends Desman Stephens II for ugly celebration after sending Dante Moore to hospital September 28, 2026
- Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk draws over 40,000 participants for sold-out event despite nor’easter September 27, 2026
- Inside this year’s Oscar race for Best Animated Feature, as indie upstarts like ‘Wildwood’ take on ‘Toy Story 5’ September 27, 2026
- NFL field expert says playing international game on Brazil field 'challenging' and included trim with scissors September 27, 2026
- Teacher lies about being Palestinian and black: Letters to the Editor — Sept. 28, 2026 September 27, 2026