Eric Taylor

Living… in Dillon, Texas, with his wife and daughter. Eric has a curious relationship with his adopted hometown. When he’s successful, he is the toast of the town, an integral and respected member of the community. When the Panthers lose a game, he immediately becomes a pariah and punching bag for the town’s passionate fans. As Coach Taylor would put it, to live in Texas is to love football – those who don’t just don’t know they love it yet. There’s a lot more at stake for Eric than a winning or losing record. His livelihood depends on football.

Profession… head football coach of the Dillon Panthers. He started as QB coach before he was promoted, and controversy shrouded his tenure from the beginning. Many locals speculated over whether he only got the promotion because of his long working relationship with star quarterback Jason Street. After Street is paralyzed on the field in the season opener, Coach Taylor seemed to be facing insurmountable odds against an unforgiving community. Nevertheless, he tries to turn the team’s fortunes around and carry the team to victory.

Interests... raising his daughter. As Julie enter her rebellious teen years, she alienates herself from Coach Taylor’s increasingly protective attitude. Even with this strain, he is always invested in her life, from education to general well-being and safety.

Relationship Status... married to Tami Taylor. Eric and Tami enjoy a rock-solid marriage. In the face of constant challenges, their bond is one thing that remains unshaken. They help each other tackle their individual problems at work and their teenage daughter's constant turmoil. Beyond being faithful, Eric is also committed to supporting Tami in her career choices, and she is often his sounding board for his coaching troubles.

Challenge… winning. To Coach Taylor, winning is a state of mind rather than a score. The true challenge of character is in trying one’s best, and not losing strength in the face of failure. Often the Coach’s internal battles come not from the troubles he’s facing, but from the way they threaten his character and principles. As he asserts, "Every man at some point in his life is gonna lose a battle. He's gonna fight and he's gonna lose. But what makes him a man is that in the midst of that battle, he does not lose himself."

Personality… wise, tough and an expert motivator. Coach Taylor knows that a coach’s job is far more than drawing up plays. He serves as an example and source of inspiration for his team, and wants to see them succeed as men, football notwithstanding. He urges his Panthers to remember: “What we have is special... it can be taken from us, and that when it is taken from us, we will be tested. We will be tested to our very souls. We will all be tested. It is these times, it is this pain, that allows us to look inside ourselves.”