History Characters / FridayNightLights

* DatingWhatDaddyHates: Ray does not approve of her dating Vince at first, since Vince in his mind is still a directionless hoodlum. However, as Vince begins to shape up and become TheQuarterback, Ray warms up to him.

* SuspiciouslySimilarSubstitute: For Smash Williams. They both are hard-hitting, African-American {{Mommas Boy}}s with gigantic egos they need to keep in check. They do have some subtle differences, though; Smash was extremely dedicated to getting a scholarship and going pro to support his family, while Vince was a thug who had the job of Quarterback foisted upon him but rose to the occasion, giving himself a bright future with a lot of prospects ahead.

* {{Joisey}}: Moves there when he becomes a sports agent (his job is in the BigApplesauce though).

The [[BoisterousBruiser swaggering, trash-talking braggart of a star Offensive Back]] who knock his opponents over like bowling pins on the field and can run like hell. Probably scores more touchdowns than the rest of the team combined, and one-half of the Panthers' lethal one-two punch of Tim Riggins' defense and Smash's offense. Make no mistake, though--beneath all his bravado, Smash is an incredibly caring and doting son who works hard both on the field and off it to support his mother and siblings. His ultimate goal is to make it to the NFL so his family can achieve ultimate stability, and though he faces many hurdles he's well on his way by the end of the series.

%%* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Matt.

* EarnYourHappyEnding: Came back from [[spoiler:a confidence-shattering injury to end up earning a spot with Texas A&M. As of the end of the series, he is the only Panther or Lion to have successfully transitioned to college football.]]

The head coach of the Dillon Panthers in seasons 1-3, and the East Dillon Lions in 4-5. HappilyMarried to Tami Taylor, and father to Julie and Gracie Belle. Eric Taylor [[AllLovingHero loves his job, loves his wife, loves his family and loves his team]], and commits to all of them one hundred and ten percent.

The head coach of the Dillon Panthers in seasons 1-3, and the East Dillon Lions in 4-5. HappilyMarried to Tami Taylor, and father to Julie and Gracie Belle.

%%* AFatherToHisMen: Especially Matt and Vince.

The coach's wife who is not content to be just the coach's wife in a town crazy about football. The guidance counselor and then principal at West Dillon High, and mother of Julie and Gracie Belle. [[DeadpanSnarker Eminently quotable.]]

* CatchPhrase:
** "Hi, honey!"
** Also, "y'all."

* HonorBeforeReason: She'll tiptoe around school policies to help students, which results in her career taking some hits.

* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Jason. Even after their huge rift, they reconcile and continue to support one another.

%%* LongHairedPrettyBoy
%%* MrFanservice

* TroubledButCute: He is a brooding loner with a ton of issues and has a drinking problem but has a good heart and still handsome.

An unassuming relief player turned unlikely Panthers star quarterback, Matt Saracen has a heart of gold, a body of steel and [[SpeechImpediment a tongue of molasses]]. Though [[CosmicPlaything the world throws a million and a half problems his way, such as him having to take care of his aging grandmother due his father being deployed in Iraq]], he withstands the crucible of his high school years and grows into a strong, confident, caring and kind artist thanks to his experiences on the football team.

%%* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Landry

** Coach Taylor becomes this for Matt himself. Given Matt's father's years of absence and emotional detachment, it's desperately needed.

[[folder:Landry Clarke]]

%%* GoodOlBoy

* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Coach Taylor.

%%** BrokenAce

* VerbalTic: Calls his players "son" very often, showing that he thinks of them as family.

* BirdsOfAFeather: With Tyra; both are from the WrongSideOfTheTracks, drink and party, deal with ParentalAbandonment, and insecurity in their own abilities. [[spoiler:Ultimately, TheyDo.]]

* SignificantSketchbook: A sign of his HiddenDepths; Matt is no JerkJock. He's thoughtful, observant, talented, and at the end of the series [[spoiler:has retired from football and is attending an art college in Chicago.]]

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: His motivational speech to Luke about figuring out a way to balance his responsibilities on the farm with school and football results in Luke running himself ragged, getting severely injured, [[spoiler: abusing pain meds, missing half the season, and consequentially missing out on college recruitment opportunities.]]

* PapaWolf: To his daughters and his team. Even more terrifying, when Julie comes home from college and confesses to [[spoiler: having an affair with her married TA, and said TA shows up at the Taylors' house, Coach silently strides out and physically chases him back into his car and actually smashes the taillight as the car pulls away.]] Doubles as a HUGE instance of BewareTheNiceOnes.

* GeniusBookClub: She excels in English class, and speaks to her love of reading and stories in her college interview. She also aces a literary question in an academic quiz bowl competition; while TryingNotToCry after [[spoiler: Matt leaves.]]

* TheDeterminator: Particularly when he has a son, and will do anything to provide for his family.
* EtTuBrute: At the beginning of the series, he's dating (and planning on marrying) Lyla, and Tim is his best friend. [[spoiler: The two of them begin an affair while Jason is recovering from a devastating accident and lost his ability to walk.]]

* NiceGuy: He consistently shows benevolence and kindness in his actions. Notably, there's not a shred of bitterness when he learns Matt has assumed his role on the team, and he compliments him to Coach Taylor. Jason also forgives [[spoiler: Lyla and Tim for their affair.]]

* VitriolicBestBuds: He can a real jerk to Tim (Not without cause) but They do really care about each other.

* CareerVersusMan: She generally prioritizes proximity to her boyfriend over her own goals and interests. [[spoiler: After some CharacterDevelopment, she chooses a college that is right for her, rather than following Tim.]]

* BirdsOfAFeather: With Tyra; both are from the WrongSideOfTheTracks, drink and party, deal with ParentalAbandonment, and insecurity in their own abilities. [[spoiler: Ultimately, TheyDo.]]
* BrilliantButLazy: He's an excellent player and a pretty good student but has very little ability to apply himself to anything. He ends up [[spoiler: quitting college after getting halfway through the first period of his first class]]

* HighSchoolHustler: Generally when someone is looking to break the rules, Tim is who they go to for help. A notable example of this is him [[spoiler: setting up Luke with painkillers.]]

* BrokenBird: Seems well on her way to becoming this when we first meet her, even more so after we meet her mother, who is a full-fledged, pill-popping Broken Bird in a string of abusive relationships who doesn't want her daughter to go to college. [[spoiler: Ultimately averts it; gets out of Dillon and goes to UT.]]

* GenerationXerox: Is afraid of turning out like her mother and older sister; two women who never left Dillon and depend on validation from men. [[spoiler: She goes to college, but ultimately returns to Dillon and reunites with Tim Riggins.]]

* EarnYourHappyEnding: Came back from [[spoiler: a confidence-shattering injury to end up earning a spot with Texas A&M. As of the end of the series, he is the only Panther or Lion to have successfully transitioned to college football.]]

* HesBack: Takes some time to regain his physical strength and confidence after an injury [[spoiler: but ultimately regains his focus and self-efficacy; and scores a college scholarship.]]

* DisappearedDad: His dad joined the Army and Matt believes he was a much better soldier than he was a parent. He even goes so far as to encourage his dad to go back to Iraq after he suggests his grandmother go to a nursing home. [[spoiler: His father dies in combat in Season 4.]]

* SignificantSketchbook: A sign of his HiddenDepths; Matt is no JerkJock. He's thoughtful, observant, talented, and at the end of the series [[spoiler: has retired from football and is attending an art college in Chicago.]]

* BewareTheNiceOnes: [[spoiler: It took him no time at all to beat Tyra's would-be rapist to death.]]

* DoggedNiceGuy: Landry is unlucky in love; with his girlfriends taking interest in other men [[spoiler: and in one case, realizing she is a lesbian.]]

* TookALevelInBadass: Particularly when [[spoiler: he joins the team.]]

* TheResenter: He starts taking petty shots at Matt in Season 4; implied to be because [[spoiler: he's humiliated about getting benched at state, and jealous of Matt's stellar performance.]]

* NiceGuy: Was fully prepared to help [[spoiler: Becky raise their baby, before she had an abortion.]]

* SnarkKnight: She has a sarcastic comeback for any situation she finds unreasonable.

* PoisonousFriend: At first to Julie, inadvertently getting her arrested even.

* ShesGotLegs: And everyone knows, including Tami, who takes advantage of Tyra's height to boost up the floundering girl's volleyball team.

%%* BigFun

%%* NiceHat

* TheCheerleader: She's a cheerleader Dillon Panthers, being both [[HeadturningBeauty extremely attractive]] and popular, and is even the girlfriend of the star quarterback. She eventually quits the cheerleading squad at the end of season 1 after being incessantly ridiculed by her peers at school after her affair with Tim is made public.

* {{Adorkable}}: J.D. spends all of his time training, and shows signs of NoSocialSkills at school dances and parties. His attempts at flirting and fitting in often come off as this.