Friday Night Lights Wiki

"I hate him. I-I don't like hating people. But I just put all my hate on him so I don't have to hate anybody else. And so that I could be a good person, you know. To my grandmother and to my friends. To your daughter. That's all I want to say. I just want to tell him to his face that I hate him. But he doesn't even have a face."
-- to the Taylors about his dad in The Son

Matt Saracen (portrayed by Zach Gilford) is a main character on the Friday Night Lights televisions series. He was the second string quarterback on the Dillon Panthers football team until he was suddenly thrust into the spotlight after Jason Street, the first string quarterback suffered a devastating injury. Matt is the son of Henry Saracen and Shelby Saracen. Before leaving Dillon for Chicago, he lived with his grandmother, Lorraine Saracen, whom he took care of due to her old age and dementia. Matt enjoys football and art. He marries Julie Taylor, his on and off girlfriend, at the end of the series.

Personality and Traits[]

Unlike most of his fellow Panthers, Matt is soft-spoken, calm, and reserved. Matt struggles with confidence early in the show which makes his role as QB1 difficult, though he overcomes this with help from his friends and Coach Taylor. While Matt enjoys football, he also has other interests. For example, he is willing to go to art films with Julie, and ends up not pursuing a career in football when he graduates.

Matt is an incredibly loyal friend and always tries to be conscious of how his actions can impact others. Matt is also humble, consistently being uncomfortable with his role as the star QB of the panthers and the attention he gets from the people of Dillon. Matt is very compassionate, as a result of spending years of his life taking care of his grandmother by himself. Though Matt is generally quiet, he is always ready to help someone he cares about any way he can.


Appearance[]

Relationships[]

Main Article: Matt's Relationships

Lorraine Saracen (Grandmother)[]

Main Article: Matt and Lorraine

Henry Saracen (Father)[]

Main Article: Matt and Henry

Shelby Saracen (Mother)[]

Main Article: Matt and Shelby

Appearances[]

Season 1
Pilot Debut
Eyes Wide Open Appears
Wind Sprints Appears
Who's Your Daddy? Appears
Git'er Done Appears
El Accidente Appears
Homecoming Appears
Crossing the Line Appears
Full Hearts Appears
It's Different for Girls Appears
Nevermind Appears
What to Do While You're Waiting Appears
Little Girl I Wanna Marry You Appears
Upping the Ante Appears
Blinders Appears
Black Eyes and Broken Hearts Appears
I Think We Should Have Sex Appears
Extended Families Appears
Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes Appears
Mud Bowl Appears
Best Laid Plans Appears
State Appears
Season 2
Last Days of Summer Appears
Bad Ideas Appears
Are You Ready for Friday Night? Appears
Backfire Appears
Let's Get It On Appears
How Did I Get Here? Appears
Pantherama! Appears
Seeing Other People Appears
The Confession Appears
There Goes the Neighborhood Appears
Jumping the Gun Appears
Who Do You Think You Are? Appears
Humble Pie Appears
Leave No One Behind Appears
May the Best Man Win Appears
Season 3
I Knew You When Appears
Tami Knows Best Appears
How the Other Half Lives Appears
Hello, Goodbye Appears
Every Rose Has Its Thorn Appears
It Ain't Easy Being J.D. McCoy Appears
Keeping Up Appearances Appears
New York, New York Appears
Game of the Week Appears
The Giving Tree Appears
A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall Appears
Underdogs Appears
Tomorrow Blues Appears
Season 4
East of Dillon Appears
After the Fall Appears
In the Skin of a Lion Appears
A Sort of Homecoming Appears
The Son Appears
Stay Appears
In the Bag Appears
Toilet Bowl Appears
The Lights in Carroll Park Appears
I Can't Appears
Injury List Appears
Laboring Absent
Thanksgiving Appears
Season 5
Expectations Absent
On the Outside Looking In Absent
The Right Hand of the Father Absent
Keep Looking Absent
Kingdom Absent
Swerve Absent
Perfect Record Absent
Fracture Appears
Gut Check Appears
Don't Go Absent
The March Absent
Texas Whatever Appears
Always Final

Quotes[]

  • First Line: (To Lorraine Saracen) "Okay Grandma. I made you two tuna fish sandwiches, and I put your medicine in the green Gatorade". - Pilot
  • Final Line: (To TBA) TBA - Always

Trivia[]

References[]

Navigation[]