It’s been 14 years since NBC’s cherished high school football drama Friday Night Lights wrapped up its five-season journey, yet enthusiasts of the series — including star Jurnee Smollett — still declare, “Texas forever!”

During a conversation with Decider about her forthcoming Apple TV+ series, Smoke, which debuts on June 27, we inquired with the Friday Night Lights alum if she’d be interested in revisiting her role as Jess Merriweather in Peacock’s planned reboot. This reboot includes several original team members, such as director Peter Berg, executive producer Brian Grazer, and showrunner Jason Katims.

“I’m waiting for the call, man!” Smollett chuckled when questioned about the possibility of returning to the Friday Night Lights realm in any form. “Jason Katims is undoubtedly one of the greatest writers we’ve had, and I always enjoy, love speaking his words.”

Like several other Friday Night Lights alum, Smollett also appeared in Katims’ NBC drama, Parenthood, where she had a seven-episode arc in Season 5 as Heather Hall, a mayoral campaign manager. As for her time on Friday Night Lights, Smollett joined in Season 4 and starred in 26 episodes over the final two seasons.

As an East Dillon High School student, Smollett’s character Jess navigated romances and friendships with football players Landry Clarke (Jesse Plemons) and Vince Howard (Michael B. Jordan). She worked at her dad’s restaurant, cared for her younger siblings, and was even mentored by the great Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) himself. An aspiring football coach who eventually joined the East Dillon Lions staff, Jess ended the series by moving to Dallas, where she became a coach for the Dallas Walker Spartans, so there’s definite potential to check in with the character in present-day should the reboot feature Friday Night Lights alum.

In a recent Emmy contenders interview with Vanity Fair, Friday Night Lights stars Connie Britton, who played Tami Taylor, and Taylor Kitsch, who played Tim Riggins, also shared thoughts on potentially reprising their roles in the upcoming reboot, saying they’re open to playing small parts in the series.

“I’ve talked to Pete and [FNL showrunner] [Jason] Katims about it. I’m just so happy where I am. I don’t feel I have much to say for Riggins or to reignite that whole thing, so I won’t be a part of it,” Kitsch, who’s worked with Berg on other projects like American Primeval, said. “…I’ll be the first one in line to watch. But in regard to being a part of it, I told Pete — and I bet you, Connie, would say the same — I would come in for a little bit of a funny arc or something, but I don’t think I would want to just full-stop go into three seasons of that.”

“Yeah, it would have to be a real little tight cameo. Same,” Britton confirmed.

As for other Friday Night Lights faves, in January 2025, Chandler, who played Britton’s on-screen husband, told the Today show, “I have not [been offered anything]. No calls. Nothing. I don’t know what I’ll say [if I’m asked].” And in April 2025, Ransom Canyon‘s Minka Kelly told Deadline, “I think it’s always best leaving people — if even they do — wanting more. I think leaving that where it was is probably the right thing to do… Maybe too much sometimes is too much. I don’t know that they need more Lyla.”

Other alum like Ginny & Georgia‘s Scott Porter, Criminal Minds: Evolution‘s Zach Gilford, and Sinners star Michael B. Jordan are down to get their “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” on again if asked.

In February 2025, Jordan told GQ, “I would pop in for an episode. I would. I think I feel that way more than I do The Wire, because I think I was part of the original cast. I think the fact that I came in Season 4 FNL, I felt like if they did a reboot, I was like ‘Alright, I can come get in this world. I’m cool with that.’”

Three months later, Porter told Us Weekly, “I would love to come back — of course — but only if it really fits the story that they are trying to tell. I have nothing but trust and love for [executive producer] Peter Berg and Jason Katims and the whole creative team that’s coming back. If they ask then 100 percent but if not, I’m so satisfied with the way Jason’s story ended.”

In May 2025, Gilford also told Us Weekly, “No one’s called me. I don’t know who they’ve called… If they want me to be involved… I loved working with Peter. I loved working with everyone. So I jump at any opportunity, but I don’t know anything about it except that Peacock’s doing it.”

While the cast of the upcoming Peacock reboot remains unknown, the streamer did share an early synopsis: “The potential series takes place in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane, when a ragtag high school football team and their damaged interim coach make an unlikely bid for a Texas High School State Championship. Through their unexpected rise, the football team becomes a beacon of light for their town.”

In addition to showering more praise on Katims’ writing, in a 2016 interview with BuzzFeed, Smollett said that Friday Night Lights “was like taking a master class,” explaining, “There are certain projects I could point out to you where I just got so much better and Friday Night Lights is definitely one of them.”

Fingers crossed that Jess and other familiar Friday Night Lights faces will return to the reboot. Until then, you can see Smollett on your TV screen again in Apple TV+’s Smoke.

Smoke premieres June 27 on Apple TV+.