This article was updated in July 2026.
Ted Lasso debuted in the midst of the pandemic in August 2020 and quickly won over viewers with its mix of classic fish-out-of-water comedy and heart. In particular, the show seemed to resonate with teachers. I noticed this early on, so it was no surprise that Jason Sudeikis, the series co-creator and star, based the character on a former coach of his who is also a math teacher.
In many ways, Ted Lasso on the show is everything most good teachers aspire to be: kind, inspiring, and someone who can’t help but make everyone around them better versions of themselves.
Beyond modeling good educator and leadership traits in general, I’ve found that Lasso’s behavior offers a lot of direct teaching inspirations. I’m not saying teachers should use it as a literal teaching manual. It is, after all, a show about how an American football coach decides to take the helm of a British soccer team, even though soccer is a sport he knows nothing about. However, I do think there are some important teaching themes that have emerged during the show’s three-season run.
Some of these lessons are sure reemerge when the fourth season debuts on August 5 on Apple+; there are also bound to be some new ones. In the meantime, here are the most important teaching lessons I’ve been reminded of from the first three seasons of Ted Lasso.
1. Subject Matter Expertise Isn’t Everything, Or Static
When Lasso arrives in England in season 1, he knows next to nothing about soccer, but that doesn’t stop the eager Yankee from helping his players grow both on and off the field, even if actually winning soccer games is only sometimes a part of that growth.
It’s a good reminder that our job as a teacher is not always to teach students what we know but help guide them on their own education journeys. However, Lasso’s character arc is also a reminder that our skills are not static. By the end of season 3, Lasso’s knowledge of the game has increased dramatically, and he’s able to contribute on a strategic level.
2. Curiosity is Key
Way back in season 1, in what is still one of the show’s most memorable moments, Lasso engages in a high-stakes dart game and surprises everyone with his bullseye striking abilities. “Guys underestimated me my entire life,” he says in the scene. “And for years, I never understood why. It used to really bother me. But then one day I was driving my little boy to school and I saw this quote by Walt Whitman and it was painted on the wall there. It said: ‘Be curious, not judgmental.’”
Lasso realizes that those who underestimate him shared a common trait: lack of curiosity, and never stopped to wonder about him as a person or ask questions about his expertise.
Curiosity is what makes Lasso who he is and one of the most important attributes students can have. Once we get students curious about learning, the rest is easy. Okay, easier.
3. Don’t Be Afraid to Incorporate Ideas From Others
One of Lasso’s strengths as a soccer strategist is his willingness to incorporate ideas others have without his ego or authority being threatened. Whether taking advice from Coach Beard, Roy Kent, or Nathan (at least in season 1), or learning trick plays from his players, Lasso is always willing to listen to new ideas.
This is particularly important for teachers who now need to constantly adapt to new technology and be willing to reach out to colleagues and students to learn about everything from new digital platforms to what kind of music students are listening to.
4. Positivity Isn’t a Miracle Cure
“Believe” is Lasso’s motto and a symbol of his intense positivity, but as the show progresses, he and other characters learn positivity alone isn’t always enough.
During its run, the show has featured darker themes and not-so-happy-go-lucky twists, much to the dismay of some viewers. And while we can debate the merits of some of these developments from an entertainment perspective, it’s certainly true in life and in the classroom that just being positive can’t overcome all obstacles.
No matter how hard we work and upbeat we are, we’ll encounter stumbling blocks, obstacles, and losses. Avoiding toxic positivity means not glossing over the struggles of students, colleagues, and ourselves. In other words, even if we choose to see the cup as half full, we have to acknowledge that sometimes it’s half full of tea.
5. Winning Isn’t Everything
Lasso cares more about the players on his team than he does about winning. And while that might not be the attitude you’d prefer the coach of your favorite sports team to have, there’s a lesson there for teachers.
As educators, we’re rightly concerned with scores and how well students understand the subjects we’re teaching, but although assessment of student academic performance is important, the impact of a good class is about more than just the final score or grade, and education is not zero sum.
Often as adults look back at their education, they don’t remember what an educator or mentor taught them about a specific subject, but they do remember the way that educator cared about them as a person, and got them excited for class, whatever that class was. Sometimes it really isn’t the final score that counts but how you played the game.
Bonus Lesson: Tea is Terrible
This vital lesson about “garbage water” is likely not part of your curriculum but it should be.
