By Mallory Mattingly
Former Indiana quarterback and current NFL prospect Fernando Mendoza elected to miss the 2026 NFL Draft so he can be home with family.
Rather than attending the Draft in person, the athlete wants to be able to celebrate with his family when his name gets called.
According to PEOPLE, Mendoza will be the “first No. 1 pick not to attend the draft since Travon Walker did so when the Jacksonville Jaguars drafted him in 2022. His now-quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, also stayed home the previous year when his name was called.”
However, Mendoza has a good reason. His mother, Elsa, suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and struggles to move.
Related: Fernando Mendoza Glorifies God After Historic Season, Heisman Win
“It’s that unwavering optimism that she gives me that really helps me go through my day,” he said in 2025 of his mom’s impact on his life. “And she’s so special to me. And to see her is such an inspiration to me. I’m so lucky to have someone like that in my life.”
Mendoza works with the National MS Society to help raise awareness and money for research about the disease.
He wrote on his National MS Society donation page, “Last year at Cal, I launched the ‘Mendoza Burrito’ at La Burrita in Berkeley, inspired by my Cuban heritage. That campaign was deeply personal, as my mom lives with MS (Multiple Sclerosis), and I wanted to use my platform to honor her strength and positivity while raising funds for the National MS Society.”
This year, he partnered with two restaurants in Bloomington, Indiana, that also created special menu items to support his cause.
“My mom means the world to me — she’s the most caring and positive person I know — and I’ll keep doing everything I can to support her and others living with MS! Nearly 1 million people in the U.S. live with this unpredictable and often disabling disease, and while progress has been made, there’s still so much more to do,” he said.
When Mendoza won the Heisman this past year, he mentioned his mother in his acceptance speech.
“Mommy, 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, you’re my biggest supporter,” he shared. “Your sacrifices, courage, love — those have been my first playbook and the playbook that I’m going to carry through my side through my entire life. You taught me that toughness doesn’t need to be loud. It can be quiet and strong. It’s choosing hope. It’s believing in yourself when the world doesn’t give you much reason to. Together, you and I are rewriting what people think is possible. I love you.”
Instead of celebrating in a room full of NFL coaches and other prospects, Mendoza would rather get the call that he’s going to the NFL at home surrounded by his family, especially his mother.
Read Next: Fernando Mendoza Praises God After Leading Indiana to First-Ever National Championship
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