Zach Gilford | Matt Saracen
Matt Saracen and his parents, Henry and Shelby, had a strained relationship. His mother left when the couple got divorced, and his father, who was in the army, left Matt in his mother’s home to care for her. Matt began the series as a backup quarterback for the Dillon Panthers but would eventually gain the starting role later on in the series.
It’s apparent from his first appearance on the show that he views his head coach, Eric Taylor, as the dad he wished he had. Despite his popularity as a star quarterback, he’s seen as the anti-jock that prefers spending time alone and drawing rather than hanging out with the boys.