Michael B. Jordan Had a Sweet Moment With 'Friday Night Lights' Costar Seconds After Oscar Win
Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t loose.
Michael B. Jordan won big on Sunday night at the 2026 Academy Awards for his work with Sinners—and, moments after he picked up his trophy, the actor shared a sweet moment with a familiar face from his Friday Night Lights past.
Jordan, 39, told home the gold for Best Actor in a Leading Role, after playing the dual roles of Smoke and Stack in director Ryan Coogler’s vampire flick. Looking back as he walked off stage following his speech, Jordan clearly saw former costar Jesse Plemons, who was beaming with happiness in the front row.
Jordan was seen pointing at Plemons, before hitting his chest with his hand, right over his heart.
Plemmons and Jordan Were on the Show Early in Their Careers
Both actors had early breaks on the television series about a football team in Dillon, Texas. The show, from Peter Berg and Jason Katims, ran for five seasons—the first two of which aired on NBC, before it moved to DirecTV.
Plemoms starred on the show as Landry Clarke for all five season, while Jordan joined as QB Vince Howard in Season 4 and stayed on through the series finale.
With both Plemons and Jordan starring in nominated films this year—Plemons appeared opposite Emma Stone in Bugonia—the two recently reunited for Variety’s Actors on Actors talks. During the chat, Jordan recalled feeling “anxious” to join the show, because the rest of the cast was "already established.”
“Everybody had such a great relationship, and like the new kid going into a new school, you felt like the outsider,” said Jordan. “But at that first cast dinner where everybody introduced themselves and welcomed us into the team, all that washed away.”
Plemons, however, said the series “needed” some “new blood” after its second season.
“These last few days, knowing I was going to see you, I’ve just been thinking about all the good times,” he added.
Michael B. Jordan Wins Best Actor
The FNL moment went down seconds after Jordan gave his acceptance speech, after beating out Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Wagner Moura.
He first thanked Sinners director, Coogler, after the pair have collaborated on Fruitvale Station, Creed and Black Panther.
“I’m so honored to call you a collaborator and a friend, and you gave me the opportunity and space for me to be seen, and I love you, too, bro, love you to death,” he said, before acknowledging Black Oscar winners who held a trophy of their own before him. That list included Halle Berry, Denzel Washington, Sidney Poitier, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker and Will Smith.
“I stand here because of the people who came before me,” he continued. “To be amongst those giants, amongst those greats, amongst my ancestors, amongst my guys, thank you everybody in this room and everybody at home for supporting me over my career. I feel it.”
“I know you guys want me to do well, and I want to do that because you guys bet on me. So thank you for keeping betting on me. And I’m gonna keep stepping up," he added. “And I’m gonna keep being the best version of myself I can be.”