Ted Lasso has referenced the titular coach’s father several times, alluding to a tragic past that hasn’t been fully explored. Ted’s unyielding optimism towards everyone in his life is an admirable trait, and one that’s created a dedicated fan following for the Apple TV+ series. But is it possible that the main character’s cheery exterior might hide some darker secrets from his youth?
Near the end of Ted Lasso season 1, Ted mentions that his father died when he was just 16. He reveals that he and his dad had a tradition of going to a local sports bar every Sunday afternoon and playing darts. At another point in the show, while talking to Jamie in season 2, Ted says that his dad was “a lot harder on himself than he ever was on me.” Fatherhood is a frequent theme in Ted Lasso, but not many other concrete details have been revealed about Ted’s dad.
All that mystery has led many fans to wonder what actually happened to the elder Lasso, sparking a few theories. Given what Ted has revealed about his father’s premature passing and his self-criticism, the most common theories aren’t exactly happy ones. Some of the clues point to Ted’s dad being an alcoholic, which would fit with his weekly afternoon bar ventures. It would also line up a bit with Ted’s own tendency to treat depression with drinking – a trend seen at several points through the show, such as in the episode when he signs his divorce papers.
Another tragic theory is that Ted’s father could have killed himself. Ted’s absolute avoidance of negative energy and his skepticism of therapy and traditional psychological treatment hint at some serious baggage in his past, and while it could all be explained within the context of his marriage, there may be deeper prejudices at play. It’s suggested that Ted’s positive persona existed long before he first married Michelle, and if he experienced something traumatic with his father at a younger age, that could explain it.
It’s also possible that Ted’s father died in an accident or had some sort of health emergency. He hasn’t made much mention of his mother in the show so far, leaving even more of his childhood shrouded in mystery. In interviews, Jason Sudeikis has compared Ted Lasso season 2 to The Empire Strikes Back, saying that things are a bit dark at the start, and that they may get darker still by the end. That makes sense, as the show has been planned for a three-season arc, which would make season 2 the dark middle chapter in a traditional narrative structure. As more of Ted’s past and inner psyche is revealed, it should be interesting to see what kinds of stories Ted Lasso chooses to tell.
