It was filmed right here in Austin — Dillon was us. Two decades on, the kids and coaches of the Panthers and Lions have scattered into Oscars, franchises, country music and prestige TV. Here is the whole roster, updated for 2026. Tap any name to read where they landed.
“Clear eyes, full hearts — can’t lose.”
The principal cast of the show America fell in love with. Tap a row to expand each player's full update — or click a name for their own page of interviews and clips. Sort by name, character, or who's done the most since. · 🎤 Cast podcasts · 📰 FNL at 20: reunions & news
| # | Actor ↕ | Character ↕ | Where they are now ↕ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kyle ChandlerEmmy | Coach Eric Taylor | Now leads HBO's Lanterns as Hal Jordan / Green Lantern (2026). | + |
The Panthers' steely, principled head coach — the moral center of the show. Where he is now: Won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama for FNL (2011), with two more lead-actor nods for Netflix's Bloodline. Built a strong film run — First Man, the MonsterVerse (Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Godzilla vs. Kong) and Back in Action (2025) with Jamie Foxx. His biggest current move: leading HBO's DC series Lanterns as Hal Jordan / Green Lantern (2026), plus Netflix's The Rip (2026) with Affleck and Damon. | ||||
| 2 | Connie BrittonEmmy noms | Tami Taylor | SAG-winning White Lotus; Netflix's Zero Day (2025) with De Niro. | + |
Eric's wife and the school's counselor/principal — the warm, no-nonsense heart of Dillon. Where she is now: A multiple-time Emmy nominee (FNL, American Horror Story, The White Lotus) and SAG ensemble winner for The White Lotus. Continued in prestige TV with Netflix's Zero Day (2025, opposite Robert De Niro) and Prime Video's Overcompensating (2025), and has joined an upcoming HBO comedy from Ted Lasso's Bill Lawrence opposite Steve Carell. | ||||
| 3 | Taylor Kitsch | Tim Riggins | The Terminal List & spinoff Dark Wolf; American Primeval (2025). | + |
The hard-drinking, soulful star fullback — the breakout fan favorite. Where he is now: Headlined studio swings (John Carter, Battleship, Lone Survivor) and drew acclaim for HBO's True Detective S2 and Waco. Recently plays Ben Edwards in Amazon's The Terminal List and its 2025 spinoff Dark Wolf, and starred in Netflix's western American Primeval (2025). Up next: the thriller Eleven Days opposite Diego Luna. Founded the veterans nonprofit Howlers Ridge. → Watch his full Joe Rogan interview + more Kitsch videos | ||||
| 4 | Zach Gilford | Matt Saracen | Mike Flanagan's horror world (Midnight Mass); Criminal Minds: Evolution. | + |
The shy backup-turned-starting QB juggling football, caregiving and first love. Where he is now: His biggest post-FNL breakout is Mike Flanagan's horror universe — lead as Riley Flynn in Netflix's Midnight Mass (2021), plus The Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher. He also holds a substantial role as Elias Voit in Criminal Minds: Evolution. | ||||
| 5 | Minka Kelly | Lyla Garrity | Stars in Netflix's Ransom Canyon (2025, renewed); 2023 memoir. | + |
The popular head cheerleader and Jason Street's girlfriend. Where she is now: Worked steadily across TV (Parenthood, Titans as Dove) and published a 2023 memoir, Tell Me Everything. Currently stars as concert pianist Quinn in Netflix's western Ransom Canyon (premiered 2025 opposite Josh Duhamel), renewed with S2 filming into 2026, and led the Netflix rom-com Champagne Problems (2025). | ||||
| 6 | Adrianne Palicki | Tyra Collette | Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; lead on The Orville. | + |
The tough, ambitious "wrong side of the tracks" girl fighting to get out of Dillon. Where she is now: Became a franchise fixture — Bobbi Morse / Mockingbird in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Commander Kelly Grayson, the female lead of Seth MacFarlane's The Orville — with recent film work including The Salamander King. | ||||
| 7 | Aimee Teegarden | Julie Taylor | Hallmark producing/starring deal; recurring on ABC's 9-1-1. | + |
Eric and Tami's headstrong daughter, whose coming-of-age ran the length of the series. Where she is now: Led the sci-fi teen drama Star-Crossed and appeared in Scream 4. Signed a multi-picture Hallmark/Crown Media deal in 2022, producing and starring in TV movies, and recently had a recurring role as Alex Doyle on ABC's 9-1-1 into early 2026. | ||||
| 8 | Scott Porter | Jason Street | Ginny & Georgia (2025); Hart of Dixie; Masked Singer runner-up. | + |
The star quarterback whose pilot-episode injury reshapes his life and the team. Where he is now: TV regular as George Tucker on Hart of Dixie, with recurring/regular roles on Lucifer and Netflix's Ginny & Georgia (S3, 2025). Competed on The Masked Singer S11 (2024) as "Gumball," finishing runner-up, alongside extensive voice and video-game work. | ||||
| 9 | Gaius Charles | Brian "Smash" Williams | Grey's Anatomy (Shane Ross); led NBC's Taken. | + |
The brash, talented running back chasing a scholarship out of Dillon. Where he is now: Joined Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Shane Ross and led NBC's Taken S1 as Bryan Mills, recurred as Bunchy Carter on Aquarius, and has appeared in The Walking Dead: Dead City — a reliable working character actor. | ||||
| 10 | Jesse PlemonsOscar nom | Landry Clarke | Oscar-nominated; Cannes Best Actor; Bugonia (2025). | + |
Matt Saracen's brainy, deadpan best friend — band geek turned reluctant player. Where he is now: One of the most acclaimed actors of his generation. Oscar nomination for The Power of the Dog; multiple Emmy nods (Fargo S2, Black Mirror, Love & Death); Cannes Best Actor for Kinds of Kindness (2024); plus Killers of the Flower Moon and Civil War. Earned Globe, BAFTA and SAG lead-actor noms for Bugonia (2025), and plays Plutarch Heavensbee in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping (2026). | ||||
| 11 | Michael B. Jordan★ Oscar winner | Vince Howard | Won Best Actor (2026) for Sinners; Creed, Killmonger. | + |
The gifted but troubled QB at East Dillon High in the show's final two seasons. Where he is now: A global movie star via his Ryan Coogler partnership — Fruitvale Station, the Creed trilogy (also his directorial debut) and Killmonger in Black Panther. In 2025 he starred as twin brothers in Coogler's vampire film Sinners, which drew a record 16 nominations at the 98th Academy Awards — winning four, including Jordan's first Oscar, Best Actor. Up next: directing and starring in The Thomas Crown Affair, a Miami Vice film, and Rainbow Six. The biggest FNL success story of them all. | ||||
| 12 | Jurnee SmollettEmmy nom | Jess Merriweather | Emmy-nominated (Lovecraft Country); Apple's Smoke (2025). | + |
The football-savvy young woman who becomes the East Dillon team's equipment manager and Vince's love interest. Where she is now: Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress for HBO's Lovecraft Country (2020). Voiced Black Canary in Birds of Prey, appeared in Spiderhead and The Order (2024), and in 2025 co-led Apple TV+'s Smoke opposite Taron Egerton, while expanding into producing. | ||||
| 13 | Matt Lauria | Luke Cafferty | CSI: Vegas, Outer Range; regular on CBS's Sheriff Country (2025). | + |
A blue-collar running back who transfers to the East Dillon Lions and dates Becky. Where he is now: Led DirecTV's MMA drama Kingdom, then played Josh Folsom on CSI: Vegas (2021–2024) and recurred on Prime Video's Outer Range. In 2025 he recurred on Duster and joined CBS's Sheriff Country as series regular Nathan Boone. | ||||
| 14 | Dora Madison (Burge) | Becky Sproles | Chicago Fire (Chili); horror/indie film (Big Boys, VFW). | + |
The vulnerable teenage neighbor of Tim Riggins, central to a major Season 4 storyline. Where she is now: Had a main-cast run as paramedic "Chili" Chilton on NBC's Chicago Fire (2015–2016). Since then she's worked heavily in genre and indie film — notably director Joe Begos's horror films (Bliss, VFW, Christmas Bloody Christmas) and the acclaimed Big Boys (2023). Now usually credited simply as "Dora Madison." | ||||
| 15 | Brad Leland | Buddy Garrity | TX character actor; The Last of Us, Love & Death (2023). | + |
The loud, football-obsessed car dealer and Panthers booster — a signature comic-dramatic role. Where he is now: A prolific Texas-based character actor with 100+ credits. Recent appearances include HBO's The Last of Us (2023) and Love & Death (2023), with the film The Gates listed for 2026 — and he stays in touch with fans on Cameo. | ||||
| 16 | Derek Phillips | Billy Riggins | Voice/mo-cap: The Last of Us Part II, lead in Blood of Zeus. | + |
Tim Riggins's older brother and reluctant guardian; eventually marries Mindy. Where he is now: Built a substantial voice and motion-capture career — Jerry Anderson in The Last of Us Part II (2020) and the protagonist Heron across Netflix's animated Blood of Zeus — plus Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Creature Commandos. He co-hosts the "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts" FNL rewatch podcast with Stacey Oristano. | ||||
| 17 | Stacey Oristano | Mindy Riggins | Bunheads, Kaleidoscope (2023); FNL rewatch podcast. | + |
A stripper-turned-wife who marries Billy Riggins and grows close to the family. Where she is now: Her biggest post-FNL role was Truly Stone on ABC Family's Bunheads; more recently she appeared in Netflix's Kaleidoscope (2023), and co-hosts the "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts" rewatch podcast with Derek Phillips. | ||||
| 18 | Louanne Stephens | Grandma Saracen | Ethel in Taylor Sheridan's Landman (2024); Longmire. | + |
Matt Saracen's dementia-affected grandmother, whom he cares for throughout the series. Where she is now: A veteran Texas stage and screen actress with a long recurring run as Ruby on Longmire. Recent work includes Vengeance (2022), Better Call Saul (2022) and a recurring role as Ethel in Taylor Sheridan's Landman (2024). | ||||
| 19 | Billy Bob ThorntonGlobe nom | Coach Gary Gaines | Leads Sheridan's Landman (S2 2025, renewed). | + |
2004 film · the steady, pressure-besieged head coach of the Permian Panthers. Where he is now: Already an Oscar winner for writing Sling Blade, with Golden Globes for Fargo and Goliath. He now headlines Taylor Sheridan's hit Landman as Tommy Norris — S2 premiered November 2025, renewed for S3, earning him another Golden Globe nomination. | ||||
| 20 | Lucas Black | Mike Winchell | Fast & Furious (Sean Boswell); NCIS: New Orleans. | + |
2004 film · the introverted, anxious quarterback shouldering the offense. Where he is now: A Fast & Furious mainstay as Sean Boswell (Tokyo Drift, Furious 7, F9), he played Christopher LaSalle on NCIS: New Orleans (2014–2019), then shifted toward faith-based films such as Unsung Hero (2024). | ||||
| 21 | Garrett Hedlund | Don Billingsley | Tulsa King (Mitch Keller); SAG nom for Mudbound. | + |
2004 film · the fumble-prone running back clashing with his overbearing father. Where he is now: Led Tron: Legacy and earned a SAG ensemble nomination for Mudbound. He currently recurs as Mitch Keller in Sheridan's Tulsa King, with Netflix's Heartland, Amazon's Criminal and the JonBenét Ramsey limited series Unspeakable ahead. | ||||
| 22 | Derek Luke | "Boobie" Miles | Cast as Johnnie Cochran in the MJ biopic Michael. | + |
2004 film · the brash star running back whose pro dreams collapse after a knee injury. Where he is now: Won the Independent Spirit Award for his breakout in Antwone Fisher (2002); later seen in Captain America: The First Avenger and 13 Reasons Why. He's cast as Johnnie Cochran in Antoine Fuqua's Michael Jackson biopic Michael. | ||||
| 23 | Tim McGrawHall of Fame | Charles Billingsley | 2026 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee; 1883. | + |
2004 film · Don's abusive, alcoholic father, clinging bitterly to his own glory days. Where he is now: A country superstar with 17 studio albums, his acting includes The Blind Side, Country Strong and James Dutton in Sheridan's 1883 (with wife Faith Hill). He was named a 2026 Country Music Hall of Fame inductee, with the ceremony set for October 2026. | ||||
| 24 | Jay Hernandez | Brian Chavez | Magnum P.I. lead (2018–2024); directorial debut. | + |
2004 film · the academically driven tight end — the one Panther focused on life beyond football. Where he is now: Played El Diablo in Suicide Squad and anchored the Magnum P.I. reboot as Thomas Magnum (2018–2024). He made his directorial debut on the horror film Night Comes, with Dafne Keen. | ||||
Career updates current as of June 2026, drawn from public reporting (Variety, Deadline, THR, Billboard) and awards records. A few announced 2026 projects are unreleased and could shift. Characters and the show belong to their respective rights holders; this is an independent fan reference.