Jason Street
Encyclopedia
Jason Mitchell Street is a fictional character in the NBC
/DirecTV
(The 101 Network) television drama Friday Night Lights
, portrayed by Scott Porter
. Introduced as the small town "All-American," Jason was the former starting quarterback of the Dillon Panthers before an injury during the season-opening football game results in paralysis of his lower body.
His character was inspired by the real-life events in the career of David Edwards
, a high school player in San Antonio, Texas
.
, but during the first game of the season he suffers a severe spinal cord
injury while successfully tackling a defender in what would have been a game-ending touchdown. It is later determined that the C7-T1 injury will leave him with paralysis of his lower body and with only limited use of his hands.
During Jason's hospital stay his (then) girlfriend Lyla begins an affair with Tim Riggins
, Jason's best friend. The two manage to hide the affair until Jason sees the two in a very intimate looking moment. He confronts Lyla about it, but she lies and says she is not cheating on him. Jason however isn't convinced and after his first Rugby game slugs Tim and challenges him to a fight, a fight that Tim walks away from out of shame and guilt over his actions. Jason tries his best to hate Lyla for her part in the affair but comes to admit he still loves her and proposes to her. Lyla says yes, but the relationship quickly begins to fall apart. After catching Jason with another woman, Lyla breaks off the engagement, ending their relationship for good.
While in rehab Jason's roommate, Herc, harasses and pushes Jason to the edge, trying to get him fired up. When he's finally pushed Jason too far he reveals that he was trying to get him motivated so that he could introduce him to his future. That future would be the sport of wheelchair rugby
. Having something to strive for, Jason focuses solely on becoming the best player he can and manages to get an invitation to try out for the US National Quad Rugby Team. Putting school on hold he spends two weeks pushing himself and showing everyone what he can do. When the time comes he is disappointed when he is not chosen to join the team and go to Beijing. While he is nursing his wounds over not being chosen for the team, Herc informs him that the reason that he was not chosen was due to his lack of experience with his wheelchair.
As if all these hardships were not enough Jason soon has to live the life of a pariah when his parents bring a lawsuit against Coach Taylor for not properly training him how to tackle someone. Many in the town do not like this, particularly Jason himself as he knew that it wasn't the coaches fault but due to the financial burden on his parents over his medical expenses he goes along with it. When a settlement hearing is called Jason takes a stand and writes out exactly how much he thinks he is owed. That amount is never disclosed but the settlement is agreed upon.
Prior to the semi-finals for the state championship, Jason, now focused for the first time in a long time, takes it upon himself to mentor his replacement, Matt Saracen
. During one of their training sessions Coach Taylor sees this and after they win a big game offers Jason a coaching position. Jason is instrumental in the Panther's winning the State Championship and the first season ends with Jason giving the team a pep talk about preparing for the next season.
Before Coach returns, Jason and Tim head to Mexico after Jason regains feeling back in his right hand and learns of an experimental surgery that can possibly help him walk again. The risky surgery worries Tim, who calls Lyla for help. During a private boat ride, the two confront Jason and try to talk him out of the surgery, but Jason does not listen and tells both of them he is tired of being stuck in a wheelchair and doesn't care if he dies during the surgery. He then proceeds to jump off the boat. While in the water, he finally realizes the mistake he is making and tells Tim and Lyla that he wants to go home.
Later in the season, Jason meets a waitress named Erin during a bad date. The two end up sleeping together, which results in Erin becoming pregnant. The season ends with Jason convincing her to keep the baby after being told by doctors that his injury would prevent him from being able to conceive a child.
Jason meets a sports agent at Dillon High School during practice one day, who gives Jason his card and tells him to look him up whenever he is in New York. However, the sports agent only gave Jason his card due to the fact the agent was trying to sign Jason's former teammate Wendell Foley. Jason misinterprets the statement and goes to New York with Tim believing he will land a job at the agency and provide a way to support and stay in Erin and Noah's lives. The agent, surprised to see him, tells Jason that he has graduates from Ivy League schools fighting to get into the firm daily, and that he himself must maintain quotas just to keep his own job. Furthermore, Foley had decided to not sign with the agent.
In an effort to prove himself, Jason convinces Foley to sign with the agency. Jason shows up at the office with Foley in tow and receives an entry-level job as a result. He later shows up to Erin's home, telling her that has made major changes in his life so that he could be in her life and that of their child if she lets him. She accepts.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
/DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
(The 101 Network) television drama Friday Night Lights
Friday Night Lights (TV series)
Friday Night Lights is an American sports drama television series adapted by Peter Berg, Brian Grazer and David Nevins from a book and film of the same name. The series details events surrounding a high school football team based in fictional Dillon, Texas, with particular focus given to team...
, portrayed by Scott Porter
Scott Porter
Matthew Scott Porter , better known as Scott Porter, is an American actor and occasional singer known for his role as Jason Street in the NBC television drama Friday Night Lights. His character was injured during a football game in the pilot episode and became a paraplegic...
. Introduced as the small town "All-American," Jason was the former starting quarterback of the Dillon Panthers before an injury during the season-opening football game results in paralysis of his lower body.
His character was inspired by the real-life events in the career of David Edwards
David Edwards (football player and motivational speaker)
David Edwards was an American high school football player whose paralysis following an injury suffered during play led to work as a motivational speaker.-Biography:Edwards was born in Austin, Texas...
, a high school player in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
.
Season 1
Jason begins the series as the senior starting quarterback of the Dillon Panthers. He is ranked as one of the top high school quarterbacks in the nation, with a scholarship offer to the University of Notre DameUniversity of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, but during the first game of the season he suffers a severe spinal cord
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
injury while successfully tackling a defender in what would have been a game-ending touchdown. It is later determined that the C7-T1 injury will leave him with paralysis of his lower body and with only limited use of his hands.
During Jason's hospital stay his (then) girlfriend Lyla begins an affair with Tim Riggins
Tim Riggins
-External links:*...
, Jason's best friend. The two manage to hide the affair until Jason sees the two in a very intimate looking moment. He confronts Lyla about it, but she lies and says she is not cheating on him. Jason however isn't convinced and after his first Rugby game slugs Tim and challenges him to a fight, a fight that Tim walks away from out of shame and guilt over his actions. Jason tries his best to hate Lyla for her part in the affair but comes to admit he still loves her and proposes to her. Lyla says yes, but the relationship quickly begins to fall apart. After catching Jason with another woman, Lyla breaks off the engagement, ending their relationship for good.
While in rehab Jason's roommate, Herc, harasses and pushes Jason to the edge, trying to get him fired up. When he's finally pushed Jason too far he reveals that he was trying to get him motivated so that he could introduce him to his future. That future would be the sport of wheelchair rugby
Wheelchair rugby
Wheelchair rugby, , is a team sport for athletes with a disability. It is currently practiced in over twenty countries around the world and is a Paralympic sport....
. Having something to strive for, Jason focuses solely on becoming the best player he can and manages to get an invitation to try out for the US National Quad Rugby Team. Putting school on hold he spends two weeks pushing himself and showing everyone what he can do. When the time comes he is disappointed when he is not chosen to join the team and go to Beijing. While he is nursing his wounds over not being chosen for the team, Herc informs him that the reason that he was not chosen was due to his lack of experience with his wheelchair.
As if all these hardships were not enough Jason soon has to live the life of a pariah when his parents bring a lawsuit against Coach Taylor for not properly training him how to tackle someone. Many in the town do not like this, particularly Jason himself as he knew that it wasn't the coaches fault but due to the financial burden on his parents over his medical expenses he goes along with it. When a settlement hearing is called Jason takes a stand and writes out exactly how much he thinks he is owed. That amount is never disclosed but the settlement is agreed upon.
Prior to the semi-finals for the state championship, Jason, now focused for the first time in a long time, takes it upon himself to mentor his replacement, Matt Saracen
Matt Saracen
Matthew "Matt" Saracen is a fictional character in the NBC/DirecTV television drama series Friday Night Lights portrayed by the actor Zach Gilford...
. During one of their training sessions Coach Taylor sees this and after they win a big game offers Jason a coaching position. Jason is instrumental in the Panther's winning the State Championship and the first season ends with Jason giving the team a pep talk about preparing for the next season.
Season 2
Jason spends the beginning of the second season as an assistant coach to the Panthers. Not agreeing with the direction the team is heading thanks to the new head coach, he quits after the first game of the new football season. After Coach Taylor returns from TMU, Jason is given the opportunity to come back to the team. He declines and tell Taylor he needs to stop living in the past and trying to be the Jason Street he was before the accident.Before Coach returns, Jason and Tim head to Mexico after Jason regains feeling back in his right hand and learns of an experimental surgery that can possibly help him walk again. The risky surgery worries Tim, who calls Lyla for help. During a private boat ride, the two confront Jason and try to talk him out of the surgery, but Jason does not listen and tells both of them he is tired of being stuck in a wheelchair and doesn't care if he dies during the surgery. He then proceeds to jump off the boat. While in the water, he finally realizes the mistake he is making and tells Tim and Lyla that he wants to go home.
Later in the season, Jason meets a waitress named Erin during a bad date. The two end up sleeping together, which results in Erin becoming pregnant. The season ends with Jason convincing her to keep the baby after being told by doctors that his injury would prevent him from being able to conceive a child.
Season 3
Season 3 picks up almost a year later. Erin has given birth to a baby boy named Noah. Jason is shown to be a great father and has come to love Erin very much. However, Erin becomes wary of Jason's ability to support her and Noah, especially when Jason says he wants to get in the highly-risky business of 'flipping' houses. He, Herc, and the Riggins brothers buy Buddy Garrity's old house, which they fix up and successfully sell. Despite this, Erin tells Jason that she cannot support herself and Noah living in Dillon and intends to move back to New Jersey with her parents and raise their son there.Jason meets a sports agent at Dillon High School during practice one day, who gives Jason his card and tells him to look him up whenever he is in New York. However, the sports agent only gave Jason his card due to the fact the agent was trying to sign Jason's former teammate Wendell Foley. Jason misinterprets the statement and goes to New York with Tim believing he will land a job at the agency and provide a way to support and stay in Erin and Noah's lives. The agent, surprised to see him, tells Jason that he has graduates from Ivy League schools fighting to get into the firm daily, and that he himself must maintain quotas just to keep his own job. Furthermore, Foley had decided to not sign with the agent.
In an effort to prove himself, Jason convinces Foley to sign with the agency. Jason shows up at the office with Foley in tow and receives an entry-level job as a result. He later shows up to Erin's home, telling her that has made major changes in his life so that he could be in her life and that of their child if she lets him. She accepts.