Fernando Mendoza's Mom Delivered Heartfelt Speech During NFL Draft

Fernando Mendoza has had a lot of role models that helped him reach the heights of college football. One of them, his mother Elsa, had a truly beautiful message for him the night he became the No. 1 overall draft pick.

Video taken from the Mendoza family draft party shows Elsa Mendoza giving a touching speech to her son, praising him for his character and perseverance in reaching the NFL and becoming the No. 1 pick by the Las Vegas Raiders.

"You make me so proud - your kindness, your humility, your faith. I just can't say enough … I'm so proud to be your mom," she said during her speech.

Fernando Mendoza: Scrap heap to top of the heap

Mendoza delivered one of the greatest single seasons in Indiana University Bloomington football history during the 2025 campaign. In his first year with the Indiana Hoosiers, Mendoza led the program to a perfect 16-0 record, a Big Ten Conference championship, and the school's first national title. He completed 273 of 379 passes (72.0%) for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, finishing first nationally in passing touchdowns while posting a 90.3 QBR, also among the nation's best.

Mendoza's individual honors matched his team success. He won the Heisman Trophy, becoming Indiana's first-ever Heisman winner, and was recognized as a consensus All-American and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year.

Mendoza also set Indiana's single-season school record for passing touchdowns and elevated the Hoosiers into the national spotlight before being selected No. 1 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 3:39 PM.