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Fernando Mendoza shares emotional message about mother ahead of 2026 NFL draft
TL;DR
Fernando Mendoza will not attend the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, choosing to stay in Miami to support his mother, Elsa, who has multiple sclerosis. His decision reflects the importance of family over the draft experience.
Key points
- Fernando Mendoza will stay in Miami during the 2026 NFL Draft
- His mother has multiple sclerosis, affecting her ability to travel
- The Las Vegas Raiders are favored to select him in the draft
Mentioned in this story
Fernando MendozaElsa Mendoza
Las Vegas RaidersNFL Draft 2026
Fernando Mendoza won’t be in Pittsburgh when the 2026 NFL Draft begins. He’s staying home in Miami instead, and the decision comes down to family.
His mother, Elsa Mendoza, lives with multiple sclerosis, a condition affecting the central nervous system that makes long-distance travel extremely difficult. That reality shaped his choice to skip the draft experience in person.
MORE: Bills QB Josh Allen reveals new mindset ahead of 9th NFL season
Whether he’s in the room or watching from home probably won’t change where he lands. The Las Vegas Raiders remain the heavy favorite to select him, and the potential pairing with Tom Brady only fuels the buzz around what could happen next.
The emotional reason why Fernando Mendoza never complains
Mendoza’s path to this moment wasn’t that simple. A lot of that perspective came from watching his mother fight through her condition every single day.
During an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” he opened up about how her strength continues to influence him.
“I see her fighting every single day, and with a smile on her face,” Mendoza said. “So there’s no excuse for me to have a bad day, bad play or bad game. I’m always trying to have an optimistic approach, give the best and serve the best to my teammates.”
"I see her fighting every single day, and with a smile on her face, so there's no excuse for me to have a bad day."
Fernando Mendoza on how he draws inspiration from his mom, who has multiple sclerosis.
Hard to not root for this kid, Raiders fan or not. pic.twitter.com/CQwvbU4qA1
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) April 21, 2026
Q&A
Why is Fernando Mendoza not attending the 2026 NFL Draft?
Fernando Mendoza is not attending the draft to support his mother, Elsa, who has multiple sclerosis and struggles with long-distance travel.
Which NFL team is favored to select Fernando Mendoza in the draft?
The Las Vegas Raiders are the heavy favorites to select Fernando Mendoza in the 2026 NFL Draft.
What condition does Fernando Mendoza's mother have?
Fernando Mendoza's mother, Elsa, lives with multiple sclerosis, which affects her central nervous system.
