Friday Night Lights cast ages: How old was the cast then (and now)?

Since its premiere on NBC back in 2006, Friday Night Lights has been a beloved drama series and a binge-watching staple. Because of the immense heart, addictive twists and turns, and the excellent Friday Night Lights cast, fans still can’t get enough of the small-town football drama.

Based on a book that also inspired a film of the same name, Friday Night Lights takes place in the town of Dillon, Texas, where high school football is an inescapable institution and the town’s favorite pastime. It’s no wonder a new coach stepping in for the Panthers ruffled some feathers.

But how old was the cast back in 2006? How old were they when the series ended in 2011, and how old are they now? We’re sharing the Friday Night Lights cast ages, beginning with an in-depth look at the series’ original cast members and leading to the later seasons’ newbies.

How old was Kyle Chandler in Friday Night Lights?

Kyle Chandler was born on Sept. 17, 1965, making the Coach Taylor actor 57 years old as of July 2023. When Friday Night Lights first premiered on NBC in October 2006, he was 41 years old. When the series ended after five seasons in February 2011, Chandler was 45 years old.

How old was Connie Britton in Friday Night Lights?

Connie Britton was born on March 6, 1967, which makes the Tami Taylor star 56 years old as of July 2023 and about 2 years younger than her on-screen husband Kyle Chandler. When the series first started airing in October 2006, Britton was 39 years old, and when the series finished its run in 2011, she was almost 44 years old.

How old was Gaius Charles in Friday Night Lights?

Gaius Charles was born on May 2, 1983, making the Brian “Smash” Williams actor 40 years old as of July 2023. When the football drama premiered in October 2006, Charles was 23 years old, a fair bit older than his high school-aged running back. Charles left the series after the season 3 episode “Hello, Goodbye” in 2008 when he was 25.

How old was Zach Gilford in Friday Night Lights?

Zach Gilford was born on Jan. 14, 1982, which makes the Matt Saracen actor 41 years old as of July 2023. When he first started portraying the quarterback in October 2006, Gilford was nearing his 25th birthday, much older than his high school sophomore character. When the series ended in February 2011, Gilford has just turned 29 years old.

How old was Minka Kelly in Friday Night Lights?

Minka Kelly was born on June 24, 1980, making the Lyla Garrity actress 43 years old in 2023. When she first started playing Lyla on the series in October 2006, she was 26 years old. Kelly left the show as a series regular after season 3 in 2009 at the age of 29. She later returned for her final appearance in season 4.

How old was Adrianne Palicki in Friday Night Lights?

Adrianne Palicki was born on May 6, 1983, making the Tyra Collette actress 40 years old in 2023. When she first started playing the fearless but troubled Dillon teen Tyra in 2006, the actress was 23 years old, the same age as her costar Gaius Charles. Palicki left the series at the end of season 3 at the age of 25, but returned to appear in a few episodes of the fifth and final season.

How old was Taylor Kitsch in Friday Night Lights?

Taylor Kitsch was born on April 8, 1981, which makes the Tim Riggins actor 42 years old in 2023. When Kitsch started playing the troubled heartthrob fullback/running back in 2006, he was 25 years old, a fair amount of years older than his high school-aged character. Kitsch remained a series regular through season 4 and recurred in season 5. When the series ended in February 2011, Kitsch was almost 30 years old.

How old was Jesse Plemons in Friday Night Lights?

Jesse Plemons was born on April 2, 1988, making the Landry Clarke actor 35 years old as of July 2023. When Plemons first started playing the lovable Landry in October 2006, the actor was 18 years old and one of the youngest members of the original cast. Plemons remained on the series through the end of the fourth season when he was almost 23 years old. He returned as a guest in season 5.

How old was Scott Porter in Friday Night Lights?

Scott Porter was born on July 14, 1979, making the Jason Street actor 44 years old as of July 2023. When he first started portraying the Dillon Panthers’ golden boy quarterback in season 1 back in October 2006, Porter was 27 years old, the oldest of the actors playing teens. Porter left the show as a series regular after season 2, but continued as a recurring star in season 3, officially departing in 2009 at the age of 29. Porter returned as a guest in season 5.

How old was Aimee Teegarden in Friday Night Lights?

Aimee Teegarden was born on Oct. 10, 1989, making the Julie Taylor actress 33 years old as of July 2023 and the youngest member of the original Friday Night Lights cast. When she first started playing the coach’s daughter in the first season in October 2006, she was 16 years old and about to turn 17. Teegarden was the closest to her character’s actual age. Like Chandler and Britton, Teegarden remained a series regular for the entire series run, making her 21 at the time of the series finale in 2011.

Friday Night Lights cast ages

Additional cast members joined Friday Night Lights in seasons 4 and 5 as some of the original characters aged out of their teen roles. Here’s more series regular ages as of July 2023:

• Michael B. Jordan as Vince Howard: 36 (born Feb. 9, 1987)
• Jurnee Smollett as Jess Merriweather: 36 (born Oct. 1, 1986)
• Matt Lauria as Luke Cafferty: 40 (born Aug. 16, 1982)
• Madison Burge as Becky Sproles: 32 (born Oct. 17, 1990)
• Grey Damon as Hastings Ruckle: 35 (born Sept. 24, 1987)

All five seasons of Friday Night Lights are currently available on Netflix.