Fernando Mendoza made football history on Thursday night.
Mendoza was selected by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft. It is just the latest incredible accomplishment for Mendoza over the last year, which included leading Indiana to a perfect 16-0 season en route to winning the National Championship. Oh yeah, and Mendoza also won the Heisman Trophy. What a year!
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It was a pick everyone saw coming - including his mom. Mendoza has opened up about his close relationship with his mother, Elsa, over the last year, as she has been by his side through the ups and downs of his football career.
Fernando Mendoza's NFL Draft dreams come true with his mom by his side
Elsa Mendoza is battling multiple sclerosis (MS), which led to Fernando opting to stay in Miami to watch the draft at home with her and his family as opposed to being on-site in Pittsburgh. After his name was called, Mendoza immediately embraces his mom in an emotional moment that his family will remeber forever.
The moment Fernando Mendoza became a Las Vegas Raider 🥹 pic.twitter.com/qt6MM8jkeS
— ESPN (@espn) April 24, 2026
After he won the Heisman Trophy in December, Mendoza delivered a heartfelt speech about the bond he has with his mom. With tears rolling down his face, he called her his inspiration and said that she is his biggest supporter.
The tears were flowing again on Thursday night as Mendoza saw his NFL Draft dreams come true. He wasted no time embracing his mom before handing out hugs to the rest of his friends and family there to support him.
As Nicholas Rome of Saturday Blitz points out, this year has been a fairy tale for the Mendoza family. The entire family was in attendance to watch Fernando lead the Hoosiers to a historic National Championship in their home town of Miami in January, and now they are by his side as he becomes the first Indiana Hoosier to be selected No. 1 overall in the modern draft era. What a moment.
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