Fernando Mendoza celebrates mom at Raiders intro: 'I see her there fighting'
Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, said his mom Elsa's fight against multiple sclerosis is his "why" as the Raiders introduced him.
Everybody has a mother. Not everybody's mother fuels their purpose while providing the foundation for his or her best attribute. For Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, taken first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft , that is the case, though.
Hours before the draft started and the Raiders went on the clock, Mendoza announced a $500,000 donation in support of multiple sclerosis research and launched the Mendoza Family Fund in partnership with the National MS Society. Mendoza's mother, Elsa, has multiple sclerosis (MS), the severe autoimmune disease that affects mobility. "She is my why," Mendoza said in a video announcing the foundation's formation.
During his introductory news conference April 24, Mendoza added: “I believe one of my pillars and my identities is giving back and fighting MS. ” Elsa Mendoza is confined to a wheelchair. Mendoza's father, Fernando Sr.
, went viral during the 2025 college football season when it was pointed out that he remained seated during celebrations in solidarity with Elsa. After all, it was Elsa who was the origin of why the Mendoza family had plenty to cheer about throughout the 2025 season, when Mendoza led the Indiana Hoosiers to an undefeated season and the national championship. According to Mendoza, she encouraged him to transfer following his third season at California.