Like the NFL, which is becoming quicker than ever, the play-calling process for quarterbacks is constantly changing. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the wristband has become something of a new favorite quarterbacking tool. This deceptively simple but ingeniously effective device allows them to instantly remember specific complex plays in the heat of competition. Other well-known quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence and Joe Flacco have adopted this technique. In contrast, quarterbacks like Dak Prescott would rather call their own plays and speak in person with their teammates.
Even a quarterback such as Trevor Lawrence of the Jacksonville Jaguars wore a wristband early in his career. That’s how it got him to recall different plays that his coach was calling in practice. This strategy did not just make his decision-making process easier, but helped his overall comprehension of the game. Lawrence’s coach, Liam Coen, said they had conversations about how Lawrence preferred to operate with a wristband. They dug into how it improved his performance on the playing field.
In a recent game, Joe Flacco demonstrated the effectiveness of wristbands when he led the Cincinnati Bengals to a thrilling 33-31 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 7. Flacco threw three touchdown passes operating off an old-school wristband that featured several hundred plays broken down into menus. It covered their usage of base runs, third-down strategies, dropback passes, empty formation calls. Flacco admitted that while it was difficult at first, wearing a wristband forced him to picture plays more clearly during high-pressure situations.
In reality, the practice isn’t new. Former Baltimore Colts running back-turned-emergency QB Tom Matte was the first to sport one back in 1965. Since then, many quarterbacks have followed suit. Notable players like Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes have relied on wristbands to access a condensed version of their extensive playbooks during crucial moments.
According to one of the more recent surveys, only about 20 active starting quarterbacks don these wristbands to help improve their performance on the field. In fact, some wristbands can even fit up to 200 plays on them, double-sided on several pages. This enables easy, fast access under high-paced game circumstances, when time is of the essence.
Coaches around the league have shared their perspective on the advantages and disadvantages of this powerful tool. Coen emphasized that the accountability lies with both players and coaches: “The players have an accountability to it, but it’s on us as coaches to make sure we’re not putting too much on their plate.” He noted that when Lawrence hears a play called out loud, he is better able to visualize it than if simply provided with a wristband number.
Others, like NFL QB Patrick Mahomes, have recently eschewed huddles to go full backyard-football mode and call plays by sight with their teammates. Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys is one of those players. He articulated his preference for personal interaction: “I like looking into the eyes of the guys I’m about to go to war with each and every play.” This approach helps to establish a greater sense of collaboration and compassion among colleagues.
Arguably the most extravagant example is the San Francisco 49ers, who allow their quarterbacks to wear wristbands in-game but not during the offseason or practices. This policy highlights the balance teams must strike between preparation and gameplay adaptability.
Amidst various opinions on wristbands, Joshua Dobbs pointed out that “a wristband doesn’t mean you can’t process the offense.” Put another way, using a wristband doesn’t mean a quarterback isn’t capable of handling a more complex play-calling. Rather, it’s an incredibly useful instrument to exploit leverage and enhance performance when it really matters.
It’s been a difficult time for other quarterbacks with this approach. Joe Flacco noted that when he first started using a wristband, he found it difficult to transition from verbal play-calling to reading plays off a sheet: “When I first started using a wristband, there’s a piece of it that was harder because instead of saying [the call] and picturing it as you’re saying it, you’re just reading words.” This transition period is often filled with costly errors, as evidenced by Sam Darnold’s admission of career errors early on in his NFL career.
Jimmy Garoppolo highlighted another critical aspect of using wristbands: communication amid noise. He explained, “It’s just a way to communicate a lot easier with all the noise we have to deal with.” In high-stakes environments such as NFL stadiums, where crowd noise is often deafening, this tool proves critical to ensuring clear and concise communication.
To that end, coaches have lamented the impact of overloading play-calls on a quarterback’s ability to play their best. Zac Taylor remarked on the importance of clarity in communication: “I have to call that and then [the quarterback has] got to call that.” Making sure that players know their jobs is key to winning the battle for play execution.
As the NFL landscape persists to evolve, so too will the tools and stuff of the trade that quarterbacks wield. As the wristband illustrates, that’s just one way technology and strategy are combining in professional sports today.
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