Through tears, Fernando Mendoza delivered a speech in December after accepting the Heisman Trophy that honored his mother, Elsa.
“Mami, this is your trophy as much as it is mine,” Fernando said. “You’ve always been my biggest fan. You’re my light. You’re my why. You’re my biggest supporter. Your sacrifices, courage, love, those have been my first playbook and the playbook that I’m going to carry to my side through my entire life.
“You taught me that toughness doesn’t need to be loud. It can be quiet and strong.”
That was on Fernando’s mind as he gathered with family at their home ahead of the Raiders selecting him with the first overall pick ahead of the NFL draft. After all, Adidas had a custom pair of sneakers made for him, and the last quote was printed on one of the soles.
Fernando was pictured showing Elsa, seated in a wheelchair, the inside of the shoe as she beamed. She has lived with multiple sclerosis for nearly two decades.
And after Fernando was officially drafted by the Raiders, it was Elsa’s turn on the microphone at his draft party and she emotionally addressed attendees to explain why she was proud of her son.
“Your kindness, your humility, your faith, I mean, I just can’t say enough,” she said in a video shared on social media by Antonio Robinson, one of Fernando Mendoza’s trainers. “Fernando, there is so much you have yet to do, but you have done so much … I’m just so proud to be your mom.”