Fernando (often misnamed Francisco) Mendoza’s mom, Elsa Mendoza, uses a wheelchair because she lives with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system and has gradually limited her mobility over many years. Her condition worsened in recent years, especially after a COVID‑19 illness, which contributed to her needing the wheelchair more consistently.

Who is “Francisco” / Fernando Mendoza?

  • The question “why is Francisco Mendoza’s mom in a wheelchair” is actually about Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana into the College Football Playoff, putting his family in the spotlight.
  • His mother, Elsa Mendoza, has become well known to fans because cameras frequently show her cheering from her wheelchair at big games and ceremonies.

Why Elsa Mendoza uses a wheelchair

  • Elsa was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis about 18 years ago, a degenerative condition that damages the central nervous system and can impair movement, balance, and strength.
  • As her MS progressed, especially after a serious bout with COVID‑19 roughly five years ago, walking long distances became too difficult, so she now relies on a wheelchair for mobility at games and day‑to‑day life.

How her story connects to Fernando’s career

  • Fernando frequently calls his mom his biggest inspiration and “my why,” saying her daily fight with MS pushes him to work harder and stay positive on the field.
  • The Mendoza family has turned her battle into advocacy, helping raise well over six figures for MS research and support programs through public fundraisers tied to his rise as a star quarterback.

MS and public attention

  • Multiple sclerosis affects nearly 1 million people in the United States, with women making up the majority of those diagnosed.
  • Elsa’s visibility at major games has sparked more public curiosity about MS and has been highlighted in news features, human‑interest stories, and fan discussions in late 2025 and early 2026.

TL;DR: Fernando (often miscalled Francisco) Mendoza’s mom, Elsa, is in a wheelchair because she has long‑standing multiple sclerosis, a progressive disease that has limited her mobility, especially after complications in recent years.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.