The iconic television show “Friday Night Lights” turns 20 this fall, and Netflix saw an opportunity to turn nostalgia for the fictional Dillon Panthers into an exciting open for its slate of games in 2026.
The streamer tapped Peter Berg, the executive producer and director of ‘FNL’ and the movie that preceded it, to write and create four openers – the first for the Australia game Sept. 10 featuring the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.
The idea for a “FNL”-inspired opener came from Gabe Spitzer, Netflix’s vice president of global live sports and entertainment. Generally, Berg said, invoking the beloved program is something he has tried to veer from in his projects since. But he thought about it and made a key call, to Kyle Chandler, aka
“Coach Taylor” from the show. Chandler narrates the spot and you can almost picture him wearing a blue (or red) Dillon jacket while addressing a room of teenagers.
Another “‘FNL” callback is the soundtrack, with the band “Explosions In the Sky” providing a tune that is quite similar to the show’s theme song.
“So consider this a reintroduction from me and everyone at ‘Friday Night Lights’ to all of our fans and the people who have supported us so much,” Berg said.
From the first guitar strums to Chandler's accented tone, the spot features youth and high school players before transitioning to the might of the pro game.
"Your eyes will see clearly. Your hearts will see fully ... I assure you, you cannot lose," Chandler narrates in a hat-tip to his character's famous catchphrase from the show "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose."
In addition to the Australia game, Berg wrote openers for Netflix’s other marquee NFL showings: Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Day and Week 18. Those lend themselves to obvious themes, and his crew will continue traveling the country to shoot footage of the youth and high school teams featured in the spots. The scenes used for this opener were from Iowa, California, Louisiana and Texas.
Peter Berg adapting another Buzz Bissinger book
Berg’s partnership with Netflix also includes his upcoming movie, “The Mosquito Bowl.” The film focuses on four elite college football players who give up their promising athletic careers to serve in the Pacific theater during World War II, and the story is based on the book written by Buzz Bissinger – the author of “Friday Night Lights,” inspiration for the TV show and the movie.
“For me, it just felt like something that was calling me,” Berg said. “It’s probably more of a war film than a football film.
“It’s been thrilling for all of us to call timeout and say ‘Let’s take a look at some of the stories and some of the sacrifices that have been made.’”
Berg brought in Niners running back Christian McCaffrey to help teach the actors football movements that would help them appear natural on-screen.
“He trains hard,” said Berg, who met McCaffrey when he directed the NFL 100 Super Bowl spot. “A great human being, a great guy.”
Pat AcAfee set for movie role
Former NFL punter and current ESPN personality Pat McAfee appears in the film as a drill instructor, a role he fully immersed himself in, according to Berg. McAfee lived on Parris Island in South Carolina with drill instructors for days on the base to prepare for the role.
“Pat’s a patriot. He knew the story. He knew the book … McAfee took it very, very seriously, and I have a lot of respect for him for doing that,” Berg said.
But until fans see that film (out in theaters Oct. 30 and on Netflix Nov. 25), the nostalgia from the “FNL” will have to do. As to why the show transcended American culture, Berg gives credit to Bissinger’s book. But he also has a theory. Within football, there is victory, failure, sacrifice, love, strength and family all wrapped into it, Berg said.
“All of these things were swirling around in that book, and are swirling around in the sport of football, from the pee-wee level to the pro level,” Berg said. “I think we approached making the movie and the TV show with that spirit, and because of that, it still resonates.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Netflix releases Niners-Rams 'FNL'-inspired pregame opener from Peter Berg
