The Internet has awarded Jesse Plemons the trophy for ‘Best Teammate’ after he applauded his competitor and former Friday Night Lights castmate, Michael B. Jordan, at the 2026 Actor Awards.
The duo were both competing for the ceremony’s highest honor on Sunday night, 15 years after playing high school football players on the hit series Friday Night Lights.
Both Jordan, 39, and Plemons, 37, were up for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role at the 2026 Actor Awards, an honor that ultimately went to the Sinners star.
When Jordan’s name was announced as the winner, Plemons couldn’t have looked any happier for his former castmate and began to proudly clap – an action that did not go unnoticed by the Internet.
‘Clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose,’ SportsCenter tweeted. ‘Jesse Plemons after Michael B. Jordan won Best Male Actor in a Leading Role. Both were nominated for the award.’
‘bro really hit ‘clear eyes full heart can’t lose’ RIGHT after MBJ cooked him,’ one posted, referencing an iconic quote from the series. ‘Jesse out here winning Best Teammate while losing the award, legend behavior.’
Jesse Plemons proudly cheered on his former castmate Michael B. Jordan after he lost the top Actor Awards honor to him
The duo both starred in the hit series Friday Night Lights
‘Real ones show love when they lose and Jesse Plemons is built different for this. That quote hitting right after Michael B. Jordan took it home shows more character than the award itself ever could,’ another said.
‘Class act from Plemons. That genuine smile says everything. Clear eyes, full heart, indeed,’ another said.
‘Seeing Jesse Plemons be so happy for Michael B Jordan so shocking because he has played some of the most evil people in Cinema/Television history,’ one posted.
‘Jesse Plemons sat there looking like a proud father,’ another tweeted. ‘both actors were in Friday night lights together and now nominated in the same category.’
‘Jesse Plemons also pumped (FNL alumni).’
‘Seeing Jesse Plemons reaction is dope,’ another said.
‘Awesome to see Michael B. Jordan finally get his flowers. And even more heartwarming to see how far he and Jesse Plemons have advanced their careers since breaking out on Friday Night Lights!’ one wrote.
Jordan pulled off the upset of awards season as he beat Timothee Chalamet for the top acting prize at the Actor Awards 2026, formally known as the SAG Awards, on Sunday night.
That was not the only massive surprise for the talented star as his film, Sinners, also shocked as it earned top prize Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the event which took place at The Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles.
The 39-year-old star was left in tears as he earned the win in the Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role.
He beat Chalamet who starred in Marty Supreme in a field which also included: Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another, Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon, and Plemons – Bugonia.
Jordan pulled off the upset of Award Season as he beat Timothee Chalamet for the top acting prize at the Actor Awards 2026, formally known as the SAG Awards , on Sunday night
Plemons was up for Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role for his role in Bugonia
The duo played high school football players in the show Friday Night Lights, which ended in 2011
Fans were thrilled to see Plemons rooting on Jordan after the latter won the award they were both competing for
The duo have come a long way since their Friday Night Lights days
Jordan was bewildered as he looked down at his new actor trophy with his hands at his face and his mouth fully open.
Chalamet, 30, – who previously won at the Critics Choice Awards and Golden Globe Awards – was a good sport as he stood up and applauded Jordan alongside his co-star Gwyneth Paltrow, 53.
When his name was announced, it was his mother Donna Jordan who had a shocked look on her face as she joyfully grabbed his shoulders.
During his speech, Jordan recognized his mother in a very sweet way as he said: ‘Mom, thank you for driving me back and forth to New York, when we didn’t have enough money to go through the Holland Tunnel.’
The veteran actor went on to thank his peers who voted for him to earn his crowning moment while admitting that he wasn’t expecting this win.
Jordan said: ‘I wasn’t expecting that. I’m so honored and privileged to be nominated in categories with people and actors and humans that I love, and I love their work and what they contribute to our craft and just rise to has been unbelievable.
‘So, thank you for welcoming me in and making me feel seen.’