Who is Mark Fletcher Jr.'s mom? What to know on Miami star's mom before Fiesta Bowl
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Miami football finds itself one win away from playing for its first national championship since 2001 in front of its home fans inside Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
It’s a position that the Hurricanes wouldn’t be in, though, without their star running back Mark Fletcher Jr., who broke off several tackles late in the fourth quarter to help lead Miami to a CFP First-Round upset over Texas A&M on Saturday, Dec. 20.
It was those tackles and that fourth-quarter performance that had ABC’s broadcast keeping one of its cameras on his No. 1 fan, his mom, in the stands as she cheered on her son passionately in enemy territory.
In Miami’s CFP Cotton Bowl quarterfinal win over Ohio State, Fletcher Jr. finished with 90 rushing yards on 19 carries and a 9-yard receiving touchdown. He’s up to 262 rushing yards on 36 carries in two CFP games this postseason for Miami, which snuck into the 12-team field over Notre Dame.
He now looks to lead the Hurricanes to their first-ever CFP title game with a win over No. 6 Ole Miss in the CFP Fiesta Bowl semifinal on Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET…where his No. 1 fan has once again traveled thousands of miles to be in attendance for.
Here’s what to know on Fletcher Jr.’s mom and more:
Who is Mark Fletcher Jr.’s mom?
Mark Fletcher Jr.’s mom is Linda Fletcher.
Linda Fletcher has a notable presence at every Miami football game, either by being shown on TV or on social media, cheering on her son. This is especially true for the Hurricanes’ road games, as she travels to these games by car instead of flying out of a strong dislike for planes.
At a media availability for the CFP Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday, Jan. 6, Mark Fletcher Jr. told a group of reporters in Arizona that his mom traveled all the way back home to Fort Lauderdale following the Hurricanes’ win in the CFP Cotton Bowl quarterfinal against Ohio State. It was the first trip back home-home since she left for Miami’s first round game against Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.
“She loves it. She really loves it,” Mark Fletcher Jr. said.
Here’s a clip of Linda Fletcher in the stands at Kyle Field for Miami’s CFP First-Round win over Texas A&M:
Does Mark Fletcher Jr.’s mom travel by plane?
No, Linda Fletcher does not travel by plane to Miami games.
In a recent interview with ESPN, Linda Fletcher disclosed that she hasn’t won any of the other moms on the team over in joining her on the road yet. She also mentioned that she’s been offered a plane ticket by some but she’s declined with a laugh.
“I say they can buy me a tank of gas,” Linda Fletcher jokingly told ESPN recently.
ESPN also noted that Linda Fletcher drove out west to Berkeley, California for Miami’s come-from-behind win over Cal last season.
Who is Mark Fletcher Jr.’s dad?
Mark Fletcher Jr.’s dad is the late Mark Fletcher Sr., who passed away unexpectedly in his sleep at the age of 53 just before Miami’s game against Florida State last season.
The Hurricanes’ running back ended up playing in that game against the Seminoles and pointed towards the sky to his best friend after scoring a touchdown.
“He’s turned his pain into purpose,” Linda Fletcher said in a recent ACC Network piece.
At that same CFP Fiesta Bowl availability, Mark Fletcher Jr. was asked about his late dad’s presence still in his life and how his dad has fueled him to get to the Fiesta Bowl. Here’s what he said:
“It definitely is,” Mark Fletcher Jr. said. “…Just playing in one of the biggest games ever in my career, I’m always going to think about him and how excited he would be for me. He’ll just tell me to go out there and have fun, so that’s all I’m feeling on doing.”
He added in a recent ACC Network piece: “I feel him with me every day.”
“I feel him with me every day.”
Mark Fletcher Jr. searches a renewed purpose and motivation after the passing of his father, Big Mark 𧥠pic.twitter.com/bweaOQFwEw
â ACC Network (@accnetwork) January 1, 2026
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mark Fletcher Jr.’s mom travels by car to every Miami football game
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