Eric Taylor (Friday Night Lights)

During the pilot episode Taylor is introduced as the new Dillon Panthers head coach. It is likely that he has been at Dillon for some time since it is stated that he used to be a quarterbacks' coach prior to this promotion. His season starts disastrously when his star quarterback, Jason Street, is paralyzed as a result of a tackle gone wrong. Sophomore, Matt Saracen, manages to save the game, but Taylor is under immense pressure from everyone given Matt's status as a relative unknown and hardly-used talent. In addition, he has to deal with the overbearing booster club president, Buddy Garrity, who ambitiously recruits Ray "Voodoo" Tatum without consulting Taylor. Taylor eventually expels Tatum from the team for being disrespectful in the locker room (i.e. insubordination), and for failing to follow the playbook, costing the team an interception at a crucial juncture of a game. Despite a rough road into the playoffs, the Panthers end the season with a record of 12-2 and win the 2006 Texas High School State Championship, winning a thrilling final game by overcoming a 26-0 deficit, 27-26. Along with teammates, Brian "Smash" Williams and Tim Riggins, Saracen leads the Panthers to a victory in the state final over ex-Panther, Ray "Voodoo" Tatum's, new team, West Cambria.

Taylor decides to leave his position at TMU and rejoin the Panthers, after Buddy Garrity and the boosters fire his replacement due to frustration with the team's performance during the first two games, in which they posted a 1-1 record. After Taylor's return, the Panthers go on a prolonged winning streak, qualifying for the playoffs with an 8-2 record. However, their quest for a second consecutive state title falls short, as the Panthers lose in the state quarterfinal, ending the season with a 9-3 record.

Again, as in season 1, quarterback controversy surrounds the Panthers the entire year, with a conflict emerging between veteran, Matt Saracen, and young phenom, J.D. McCoy. The two share playing time for the first few games of the season, after which time Taylor decides to start McCoy and demote Saracen to second string. Determined to win back a starting role, Saracen, with the help of his girlfriend and coach's daughter, Julie Taylor, convinces Coach Taylor to give him a starting role as a wide receiver. Saracen plays well in his new role, and along with McCoy and Riggins, helps the Panthers post their strongest regular season under Coach Taylor, as they cruised into the playoffs with a 9-1 record. For the second time in three seasons, the Panthers reached the state final. However, McCoy breaks down mentally and the Panthers find themselves losing by a huge margin at halftime, again. Sensing McCoy's immaturity, Taylor decides to play Saracen at quarterback in the second half, in which Matt leads the Panthers to a tremendous comeback. However, poor time management causes the Panthers to relinquish their lead, as they fall in the final seconds of the state championship, 30-28. The Panthers end the season with a 12-2 mark.

West Dillon decides not to renew Coach Taylor's contract, as Joe McCoy's influence leads the boosters and the school board to select Wade Aikmen, J.D. McCoy's personal quarterback coach, as the new Panther Head Coach. Taylor's failure to comply with McCoy and Aikmen's demands and total control of offensive play calling and assurance that J.D. will start every game leads to his departure.

Taylor is selected to coach the new team at the newly re-opened East Dillon High School, where he has to start from scratch. He finds an unlikely ally in Buddy Garrity, who is disgusted by McCoy's behavior and manipulation. In the first game, the East Dillon Lions looked completely overmatched, trailing 45-0 at halftime, at which time Taylor decides to forfeit the game due mostly to his players' injuries. Taylor eventually apologizes for this decision, as it demoralizes his players and takes him several days to win back their respect.

After the first game, Buddy Garrity switches allegiances due to his frustration with Panther leadership, and alerts Coach Taylor to the real address of West Dillon star running back, Luke Cafferty, who must attend East Dillon due to his real address. During the season, under Taylor's tutelage, sophomore quarterback, Vince Howard, emerges as one of the state's best players. With Howard and the acquisition of Cafferty from West Dillon, the Lions end the season respectably, defeating West Dillon in the final game on a field goal by Landry Clarke. Although the Lions end the season with a poor 2-8 mark, Taylor, Howard, and Cafferty lay the foundation for the next year's championship team.

The Lions begin the season on a roll, winning their first seven games, including a blowout of crosstown rival West Dillon. During the season, under the influence of his father, Vince Howard becomes corrupted by the recruitment process, which causes the end of the Lions' winning streak. Vince's temporary selfishness forces Coach Taylor to bench him and start Cafferty at quarterback. In the meantime, Taylor is again courted by another college in Florida.[3][4] Although the offense struggles when Howard is benched, Cafferty leads the Lions to a thrilling last second victory, in which they clinch a playoff berth.

Howard realizes his mistakes and grows into a mature leader toward the end of the season, leading the Lions to dominate throughout the playoffs and reach the state final. Howard throws a Hail Mary touchdown pass to clinch the state championship for the Lions at 27-26. Despite the state championship, budget cuts force the elimination of the Lions after the season, at which time the Lions' players will join the Panthers. Taylor receives an offer to return to the head coach position for the Dillon Panthers; he eventually declines due to past conflicts with the booster club. Taylor moves away from Dillon and begins coaching the Pemberton Pioneers in Philadelphia, due to a career opportunity for his wife, Tami.