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Fernando Mendoza comes from a proud Cuban American family, and there was a time when the Indiana quarterback was wearing a Miami jersey instead of his now signature Hoosiers red. Fernando is from Miami, and the national championship is a bit of a homecoming for the Indiana quarterback, who grew up rooting for the Canes. Fernando’s parents Elsa and Fernando Mendoza Sr. have witnessed his rapid rise to become a college football star and potentially the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. Another part of the Mendoza family are Fernando’s brothers, Alberto and Max. Like Fernando, Alberto is an Indiana quarterback but serves in a reserve role for the Hoosiers. Fernando comes from a football family, including his dad Fernando Sr., who was teammates with Miami head coach Mario Cristobal. Fernando Sr. and Mario played together on the offensive line at Columbus High School in Miami, per USA Today’s Blake Toppmeyer.Here’s what you need to know about the Mendoza family. Fernando Mendoza Made History as the 3rd Heisman Trophy Winner of Hispanic or Latino HeritageBoth sets of Fernando’s grandparents were born and raised in Cuba before eventually moving to the United States. Fernando made history as just the third Heisman Trophy winner to be of Latino or Hispanic descent, per The Athletic’s Christopher Kamrani. Fernando gave a nod to his Cuban heritage by speaking in Spanish to his grandparents during his Heisman Trophy acceptance speech. The Mendoza family remains connected to their Cuban roots, taking trips to Cuba to see where their grandparents grew up. “We saw where my grandfather lived and we went to my grandmother’s house,” Fernando’s brother Alberto told ESPN’s Ryan McGee in a January 19, 2026, feature story titled, “CFP National Championship: Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza’s Miami roots run deep.” “We saw where they went to school. The church that he went to. It truly made you very sad, because it’s so run down, but you can see how truly beautiful it was and how great Cuba was. “He told us about the Bay of Pigs. How he had to leave when he was 9. How she had to leave when she was 11. But, like Fernando said to you, when you see it for yourself, you don’t look at yourself the same way. You don’t look at anything the same after your eyes have seen it.”Some of Fernando Mendoza’s Family Appears To Be Rooting for Miami Against IndianaFernando’s dad Fernando Sr. may have a connection to the Miami coach, but the Hoosiers’ quarterback’s father will clearly be rooting for his son to win a national championship. It is not as clear for the entire Mendoza family as some extended family member were spotted wearing Miami gear during a reunion ahead of the national title, per McGee. Fernando grew up rooting for Miami and going to Canes games. Now, Fernando will be looking to prevent his childhood team from winning their sixth national title. “I would say the meaning, it means so much to myself and my family, having grown up in Miami, having grown up a University of Miami fan, and basically the whole identity being a Cuban living in Miami,” Fernando said in a January 17, media session. “Whose grandparents, all four grandparents immigrated from Cuba to Miami, made their way, had the American dream, and I’ve been so thankful to them and thankful to God that I’ve been able to have a good childhood and them raising me by accomplishing the American dream.” Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Fernando Mendoza’s Family Has Surprising Connection to Miami HC Mario Cristobal appeared first on Heavy Sports.

Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald offered a day-to-day update on several banged-up offensive linemen, including a notable note that swing tackle Josh Jones is “a candidate” to return to practice this week ahead of the NFC Championship against the Los Angeles Rams. While Macdonald didn’t fully clear anyone, the tone was familiar for this time of year: Seattle will take Wednesday as the first real measuring stick, then adjust from there. View this post on Instagram Mike Macdonald Says Josh Jones Is “a Candidate” to Practice This Week View this post on Instagram The clearest offensive line note came when Macdonald was asked directly whether Jones could get back on the field.“Josh is a candidate to come back this week,” Macdonald said, adding that the team will have to see what he looks like on Wednesday. If Jones isn’t ready, Macdonald suggested Seattle will have to move further down the depth chart.That “candidate” phrasing matters because it keeps the door open without promising anything. It also signals that Seattle is preparing contingency plans right now, which usually means the coaching staff thinks it’s possible they won’t have their ideal group.Seahawks Also Monitoring Charles Cross’ StatusMacdonald also got a brief follow-up question on left tackle Charles Cross.“Does Charles need to… you need to see him practice to play?” a reporter asked.Macdonald responded: “I wouldn’t say necessarily.”That doesn’t guarantee Cross is in the clear, but it’s a notable tell: Seattle isn’t automatically requiring a full practice week for him to be available. In late-season situations, teams often lean on walkthrough work, treatment progress, and how a player responds in pregame testing.Why Seattle’s Offensive Line Health Is a Big Deal Right NowThis is the kind of week where offensive line availability can quietly decide how the Seahawks call the game.If tackles are limited, it can change everything from protection calls to how often Seattle keeps a tight end in to help, and even how aggressive the offense can be pushing the ball downfield. It can also affect the run plan, especially if the Seahawks want to keep leaning on the ground game to control tempo.Macdonald emphasized earlier in the presser how connected the run game is, not just the line, but tight ends, receivers, and the quarterback executing details. That’s usually coach-speak for: if you’re missing key pieces up front, everyone else has to do more.With the Seattle Seahawks set for an NFC Championship showdown against the Los Angeles Rams, Macdonald’s day-to-day offensive line update carries extra weight. This is the kind of matchup where one tackle spot can swing the entire game plan, how often Seattle chips with tight ends, how long Sam Darnold can hold the ball, and how clean the run lanes look early. Macdonald said Josh Jones is “a candidate” to return to practice this week, while noting the team will see where things stand Wednesday.Zach Charbonnet injury adds pressure on the run-planMacdonald also addressed the Zach Charbonnet injury, saying it’s “pretty sure ACL,” and that the team is still working through details.Even if the story focus is the offensive line, that matters because it raises the stakes on blocking consistency and clean execution: if Seattle’s backfield is reshuffling while the line is banged up, the margin for error shrinks. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Seahawks Could Get Major Offensive Line Upgrades For NFC Championship appeared first on Heavy Sports.

When Joe Burrow speaks, the NFL world listens. But when the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback breaks a months-long social media silence to defend league officiating, people lose their minds. Following a chaotic Divisional Round weekend, Burrow took to X, formerly Twitter, for the first time since 2023 to address the “what is a catch” debate that hijacked the national conversation. Two specific plays, one involving the Buffalo Bills and another in the Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams matchup, left fans irate. Burrow, however, isn’t buying the outrage. “The amount of ppl that don’t understand what a catch is in the rule book flabbergasts me,” Burrow posted. “And it’s not the officials. The two plays yesterday were not difficult calls, and they got them both right.” The controversy centered on bang-bang plays where receivers appeared to lose control while hitting the turf. In the Bills’ narrow loss to the Denver Broncos, a crucial interception was upheld in what was a scrappy catch. Later, the Rams benefitted from a similar ruling against the Bears. While fans screamed for consistency, the stats tell the story of how tight these games were. In the Bills’ loss, Josh Allen threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns, relying on those contested catches to move the chains. Burrow, who spent the latter half of the season recovering from injury, clearly spent his downtime studying the nuances of the NFL rulebook. His “strong statement” serves as a reminder that while the catch rule remains the most polarizing topic in sports, the players on the field often see the game differently than the fans in the stands. Whether you agree with “Joe Cool” or not, his return to social media has officially turned up the heat on the road to the Super Bowl. The post Bengals’ Joe Burrow breaks X silence to weighs in on playoff catch controversy appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Phoenix Suns may finally get Jalen Green back on the floor. After missing 33 consecutive games with a right hamstring strain, Green is expected to return Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers, according to Arizona Sports reporter John Gambadoro. The potential return would mark just his third appearance of the season and his first since early November in a debut year that has stalled almost from the start. Green is sitting out of Monday night’s matchup against the Brooklyn Nets in the first leg of Phoenix’s back-to-back. Still, his status continues to trend upward. The Suns upgraded the 23-year-old guard to questionable for the first time since the injury, a notable step after more than two months on the sideline. A Long Road Back After a Sudden Setback Green has not played since Nov. 8, but the absence feels even longer given how abruptly it began. In his Suns debut earlier that week, Green erupted for 29 points, immediately showcasing the downhill speed and scoring punch Phoenix envisioned when it added him to the roster. He suffered the hamstring injury the very next game and has not returned since. Before arriving in Phoenix, Green had played 192 consecutive games, playoffs included, without missing time. Then the streak ended almost immediately. Because of this, Phoenix has resisted the temptation to rush Green back, even as the team navigated long stretches without one of its most explosive perimeter weapons. Head coach Jordan Ott has consistently emphasized progress rather than timelines, noting that Green continues to move in the right direction. “Everything seemed to be good. So we’ll see,” Ott said over the weekend. “Still going in the right direction.” Ott also highlighted the behind-the-scenes work Green has been able to do despite not playing in games. “They actually get a lot more done with five-on-five than even some of our practices in the season,” Ott explained. “We have that ‘stay ready group’ that does some drill work and mixes it up half-court, full court. He’s able to pop in our shootarounds. He’s still in our shootarounds the best he can. Just would love to see him out there in a jersey.” Booker, Locker Room Eager for Green’s Return Devin Booker has made it clear how much the team wants Green back, especially after watching and following what the process has taken out of him mentally. “I’m happy for him. I’m excited for him,” Booker said, via Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. “Nobody wants to miss time. He’s been healthy the majority of his career. So I know he’s itching to get out there.” Booker of course also highlighted the on-court impact Green brings when healthy. “He’s another person out there that’ll have rim presence for us and draw a lot of fouls,” Booker told reporters Saturday. “We’re all getting excited for Jalen. He’s been licking his chops getting ready for this moment. I think we’ve overdone it with keeping him out. He’s going to be healthy and strong and ready to go.” What Green’s Return Could Mean If Green does return Tuesday in Philadelphia, expectations will remain measured. It’s likely that he may even be on a minutes restriction as he continues to work himself into game shape. Still, for a Suns team that has waited months to reintegrate a key piece, simply having Green back in uniform would matter. His speed, rim pressure, and ability to tilt the floor give Phoenix a dimension it has lacked for much of the season. For now, the finish line finally appears in sight. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Suns Share Exciting Jalen Green Injury News Ahead of Nets Game appeared first on Heavy Sports.

The Green Bay Packers are in the market for a defensive coordinator after Jeff Hafley landed the head coaching job with the Miami Dolphins.ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the news on Monday, January 19.“ESPN Sources: Dolphins are hiring former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley as their head coach,” Schefter wrote. “Hafley completed his second interview with the team today and will be their new head coach.”Following that news, former Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris profiles as among the most likely candidates for take over DC duties in Green Bay.“Some immediate names to keep a very close eye on: Demarcus Covington, Zach Orr, Christian Parker, Raheem Morris, Derrick Ansley, Jim Leonhard,” Andy Herman of the Packer Report wrote on X on Saturday. “I’d put Morris as my initial best guess if [Matt] LaFleur is back.”Raheem Morris Won Super Bowl as Rams DC With Sean McVay, Close Friend of Packers HC Matt LaFleur GettyGreen Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur recently inked a new multiyear contract with the franchise. LaFleur returned on a multiyear contract over the weekend and has multiple degrees of connection to Morris through coaching relationships across the NFL.Morris lost his job at the head coach in Atlanta after two seasons at the helm. Before his stint with the Falcons, Morris was Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator for three years, working under head coach Sean McVay. The two captured a Super Bowl together in 2021.McVay and LaFleur are close friends and Morris makes sense as a DC in Green Bay now that LaFleur needs a competent one to replace Hafley.Raheem Morris May Still Land Head Coaching Job Elsewhere in NFL After Losing Position With Atlanta Falcons Former head coach of the Atlanta Falcons Raheem Morris could be the next defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers (Getty Images). The one thing that could get the in the way of Morris to Green Bay is his potential candidacy for other head coaching jobs around the league.Several teams remain without a head coach, including the Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tennessee Titans.The New York Giants have already hired John Harbaugh to run their sideline, while the Falcons replaced Morris with former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski over the weekend. Hafley claimed the third of 10 open head coaching jobs this cycle when the Dolphins hired him on Monday.Morris also served head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009-11 and spent part of the 2020 campaign as the Falcons’ head coach after starting that season as the team’s defensive coordinator. Morris has a regular season record 37-56 across five full seasons and a portion of a sixth in the top sideline role. No team he has coached has made the playoffs.It is rare that any candidate gets three shots as an NFL head coach, particularly if neither of his first two stops results in a considerable amount of success. That said, Morris is well respected around the league and is still just 49 years old, so anything remains possible. Like Heavy Sports's content? Be sure to follow us. This article was originally published on Heavy SportsThe post Ex-Falcons Coach Top Option for Packers After DC Jeff Hafley Departs appeared first on Heavy Sports.