Friday Night Lights: Coach Taylor’s Greatest Moments

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9. His Daughter Dating

Before Matt and Julie became serious, Coach Taylor really didn’t seem to think too much of it, and in fact was just happy her romantic interests didn’t lay elsewhere.

Tami Taylor: “Well, I’m just saying, I think it’s becoming a thing. And you know what thing it is? It’s that think that we always knew was gonna happen to our little girl. It’s that think. That thing is happening now!”
Coach: “At least she’s not interested in a serial killer…or one of the Riggins.”

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8. Building Character

Through his career, Coach Taylor had to deal with difficult kids who had their own difficult situations, but somehow he always knew how to get through to them.

Vince Howard: “Coach my dad just got out of prison. He’s staying with me in my house and I can’t stand him. My mom, she asked me to forgive him, to be better. And you’re asking me to be better. I don’t know how to be better because he never taught me how. He never taught me how to be better. He’s not around, and I’m supposed to be better.”
Coach: “Listen to me, I said you need to strive to be better, I didn’t say you needed to be better than everyone else. But you gotta try. That’s what character is. It’s in the trying.”

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7. Being Champions

Coach Taylor firmly believed you have to work hard and earn your way, something he impressed upon his players, especially after they became complacent.

Coach: “If you think you’re champions because you wear the Panther uniform, YOU’RE WRONG! If you think you’re champions because they give you a free slice of pie at the diner, YOU’RE WRONG! You’re not a champion until you’ve earned it! Champions don’t complain! Champions don’t give up! Champions give 200%!”

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6. Boys and Girls

While Coach Taylor showed a lot of tough love to his team, he was usually more sensitive when it came to his daughter, Julie Taylor. Some topics, however, need a straightforward delivery, and Eric Taylor will always tell you like it is.

Coach: “If you’re wondering if a boy is thinking about you, he’s not. He’s thinking about sex or he’s hungry. Those are the only two options.”

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5. Any Moment With Tami

Tami: “Honey, are you jealous?”
Coach: “No I’m not jealous. I’m just asking a question.”
Tami: “That is adorable that you’re jealous.”
Coach: “You like that?”

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4. On Losing Yourself

As a coach, Eric Taylor prided himself in forming his players into proper men, not just proper football players and as such, looked beyond simply winning and losing and always found an opportunity to offer words of wisdom.

Coach: Every man at some point is gonna lose a battle. He’s gonna fight and he’s gonna lose. But what makes him a man, is that in the midst of that battle he does not lose himself.”

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3. Helping Tim

Dealing with Tim Riggins was particularly difficult for Coach Taylor, but he always knew how to help him in the best way possible, and what to say, especially following Riggins’ best friend Jason Street’s terrible accident on the field.

Coach: “It was an accident. It was not your fault. Look at me. I want you to let yourself off the hook, son.”

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2. Helping Matt

One of the most perfectly scripted and acted episodes in the whole series was the season four episode, “The Son.” Both Zach Gilford and Kyle Chandler gave incredible performances, and one scene in particular is without a doubt one of the best moments for each character.

Matt: ” You don’t care about me! You left me for a better job! Your daughter left me for a better guy! Carlotta left me for Guatemala! My dad left me for a damn war! Everybody leaves me! What’s wrong with me?”
Coach: “There’s nothing wrong with you. There’s nothing wrong with you at all.”

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1. Life’s Motto

Of course, there is the everlasting line that has stuck with fans forever.

Coach: “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.”

Telisa Carter

Telisa enjoys learning and writing about all things entertainment in the world of Hollywood. When she isn't catching up on her favorite TV shows, she likes to read, and obsess over all things football.