Raiders' Mendoza champions old-school note-taking in digital age
Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza is known for his extensive handwritten notes, a habit he maintains even during meetings with Tom Brady and Travis Scott. Many NFL players still prefer writing by hand, with one veteran estimating 75-80 percent do so. Research suggests handwriting aids memory and comprehension through summarization and review.
Mendoza’s note-taking began in high school and carried through college stops at Cal and Indiana, where he favored computational notebooks. His habit extends beyond football: he jotted down details during a lunch with Tom Brady and Travis Scott, and even former Cal quarterback Mike Pawlawski saw him reach for a notebook at dinner. The practice is widespread across the NFL, with one veteran estimating that three-quarters of players still write by hand.
Research cited in the article suggests handwriting’s advantage emerges only when paired with deliberate review. Because writing is slower than typing, it forces summarization and rephrasing, which deepens comprehension. Educational psychologists note that handwritten notes create a more meaningful record that serves as a better mental prompt during later study, though simply taking notes without review yields no benefit over typing.
This story highlights a counterintuitive trend in a tech-driven era: elite athletes clinging to an analog habit. Its impact may ripple beyond football, reinforcing that handwriting’s cognitive benefits—summarization, synthesis, and review—remain relevant for learning in any field. Coaches, educators, and professionals could see this as validation for encouraging handwritten notes, while younger audiences might reconsider their own digital-first habits. However, the effect is likely modest, as the practice’s value depends on disciplined review, not the act alone.