Friday Night Lights is a series that has only gained in popularity after it ended in 2011. Even those who are not interested in the world of high school football were able to get swept up in the heartwarming story of a stressed-out coach and his underdog pigskin squad. Over five seasons, fans fell in love with these characters on and off the field.
The talented ensemble of actors was a very big reason the show worked so well. They helped make these characters compelling, funny, and inspiring. But while these actors expertly embodied these roles, it's interesting to consider if Friday Night Lights were made today and the modern actors who could do these complex characters justice.
Vince Howard: Caleb McLaughlin
Before stepping into the boxing ring in Creed and becoming one of Hollywood's biggest stars, Michael B. Jordan got his big break playing Vince Howard on the show. Vince is one of the best football players on Friday Night Lights and strives to use that talent to turn his life around.
Caleb McLaughlin is another young actor starting on television who could have a big career ahead of him. While he is best known for Stranger Things, Laughlin's role in Concrete Cowboy shows why he could be a great Vince Howard as he also plays a young rebellious man trying to find a world in which he belongs.
Buddy Garrity: David Koechner
One of the most entertaining characters on the show is Buddy Garrity. At first, Buddy seems like an obnoxious man who tries to boss around Coach Taylor and thinks he knows what is best for the team. He also makes a lot of mistakes in the series, but actor Brad Leland infuses the role with a lot of humor, making Buddy more likable than he ought to be.
David Koechner is a great comedic famous for Anchorman and The Office. He is also known for playing the loudmouth characters similar to Buddy, but Koechner is so funny in these parts that it's not hard to find something to like about them.
Jason Street: Shamiek Moore
In the first episode of the show, Jason Street has it all. He is the star of the football team as its quarterback, he is dating a beautiful cheerleader, and his future seems set. But after a devastating injury, Jason's whole life is thrown into doubt. Scott Porter does a great job showcasing the character's journey in life after football.
Shamiek Moore is a talented young actor known most for voicing Miles Morales in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. That role also shows how Moore can play a young man whose world is turned upside down and needs to find the inner strength to succeed in his new existence.
Landry Clarke: Skyler Gisondo
Jesse Plemons is now one of the most interesting character actors in the business, but his first standout role was as Landry in Friday Night Lights. Landry is a bit of an awkward kid who doesn't fit in with the football crowd but is nevertheless loyal, caring, and funny.
Skyler Gisondo perfected his performance as a gawky high schooler in the underrated Netflix series Santa Clarita Diet. He was hilarious as a quirky teen who was always there for the people he cared about and he can bring that same element of oddball devotion that made Landry such a standout character.
Matt Saracen: Judah Lewis
Following Jason Street's injury, Matt Saracen (Zach Gilford) is promoted to the head quarterback of the football team. While Matt has some talent, he is far from Jason's level and has plenty of other responsibilities beyond football to worry about. Yet with encouragement, he is able to grow as a player.
Judah Lewis is best known for his role in the horror-comedy series The Babysitter. Lewis is great at playing the likable and kind teen who lacks self-confidence yet still has the potential to be a hero. He has that rare talent of being vulnerable and inspiring that would make him an ideal fit for Matt.
Lyla Garrity: Leslie Grace
Lyla Garrity (Minka Kelly) is another character who begins the series on top of the world but has to face the harsh realities of life. She is a popular cheerleader, dating Jason Street, and the daughter of the successful Buddy Garrity. But each of those things becomes more complicated as time goes on, making Lyla so much more than just the pretty popular girl.
Leslie Grace is on her way to becoming a big star thanks to her standout performance in In the Heights. In that role, Grace beautifully plays a young woman named Nina who everyone thinks has it all together but is constantly struggling with self-doubt and family drama. Her Nina is very similar to Lyla, and Grace has shown she can successfully convey the complicated emotions of a young woman swept up by forces beyond her control.
Tyra Collette: Diana Silvers
Tyra Collette (Adriane Palicki) is sort of meant to be the darker version of Lyla Garrity as she comes from a far less affluent family and is dating the football team's bad boy, Tim Riggins. While she has her share of troubles throughout the series, Tyra becomes dedicated to defying expectations and making something of herself.
Diana Silvers is an up-and-coming actor who has a real talent for playing characters with an edge. Her role in the comedy series Space Force shows she can play that harsh attitude necessary for Tyra while also being someone the audience wants to cheer for.
Tim Riggins: Austin Butler
For many people, Tim Riggins was their favorite character on the show. He was a rebellious football player who was hard-partying and reckless while also quite talented. Taylor Kitsch showed off a star quality in the role with plenty of bad boy swagger.
Austin Butler is destined to become a star thanks to his titular role in the upcoming Elvis biopic. But it's also easy to see him as the ruff and rugged Tim. Butler showed off his swagger in roles like in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and already appears to have that star quality needed for a role like Riggins.
Tami Taylor: Judy Greer
Connie Britton reprised her role as the coach's wife from the movie version of Friday Night Lights. In the show, Britton gets a lot more to do as Tami Taylor, the warm and loving life of Coach Taylor who supports her husband but is also not afraid to remind him there is more to life than just football.
Judy Greer's movie and television roles often find her as the best friend or wife, but she always brings something special to those parts. It would be great to see her get a more expanded role like that of Tami where she can be that loving partner who is also the voice of reason.
Eric Taylor: Sterling K. Brown
Kyle Chandler's Emmy-winning performance as Coach Eric Taylor is one of the most beloved television characters of the 21st century. Coach Taylor is a tough man who pushes his players to give everything they have, but his love for them is clear and he inspires them beyond just winning a game.
Much like Friday Night Lights, This is Us is a show filled with heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. Many of those moments come from Sterling K. Brown. He is an actor who can bring so much heart to his roles, making the audience want to follow him in anything he does.