An emotional scene played out when Indiana Hoosiers quarterback and Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza ran to his ‘best friend’ during the CFP championship celebration.
The future is looking bright for Mendoza, but he says he wouldn’t be where he is today if it weren’t for his mother, Elsa, and his father, Fernando Sr. Immediately following the title ceremony, the quarterback ran to give his wheelchair-bound mom, who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a tight hug. The heartwarming moment was captured on video.
Watch:
The first people Fernando Mendoza ran to after the trophy ceremony?
Mom and dad.
True champion. pic.twitter.com/qUrnKIE49v
— Daren Stoltzfus WESH (@DarenStoltzfus) January 20, 2026
Elsa spoke to reporters after the game, calling the moment a “dream come true.”
Watch:
Talking to Fernando Mendoza’s parents after he won the national championship. Fernando’s mom told me she’s going to remind Fernando that he’s a quarterback not a running back after that fourth down touchdown run. pic.twitter.com/a1rkGc1C2i
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) January 20, 2026
“The projected next Raiders quarterback made it abundantly clear throughout this dream season that he would not be where he is today without his mother,” The New York Post reported.
He loves her so much, in fact, that he teamed up with “an Indiana business to create the ‘Mendoza Burrito,’ with all the proceeds going to the National MS Society,” the outlet continued.
“But her happiness, her joy and her determination is what inspires me every single day, and that’s what pushes me,” the athlete said in a video from December. “If I’m in a workout and I’m feeling tired and a little thought in my mind, ‘Oh, maybe you should just skip out on this set or something,’ I’ll be like, ‘My mom is out here every single day putting a ton of work and still with a great attitude, and a great positive attitude in everything she does.’”
X users weighed in on the family’s powerful connection:
This is well rounded and grounded young man. His parents did a wonderful job raising even in trying times.
— Vin (@Vin_boi_blue) January 20, 2026
Hats off to the Mendoza’s… they did an outstanding job raising their children👏🏼❤️
— Tammy Hammer (@tammhammer) January 20, 2026
How sweet! You can tell they are just good people! 🙏🏻❤️
— Joshua (@jchrzanowski6) January 20, 2026
Mom’s got the right idea—keep slinging that ball, Fernando, and congrats on the natty!
— Mabupsa (@magicmoneyfeed) January 20, 2026
The way Mr. Mendoza tells the reporter to get down low so he’s at Mrs. Mendoza eye level 🥹
— Vivienne (@choirgirl181) January 20, 2026
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to write. Marlee also contributes to BizPac Review.
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