Ranking the 7 Best Ted Lasso Characters from the Hit Apple TV Series

Ted Lasso season three is underway, which has the hit Apple TV series back on center stage. There are whispers about a potential Ted Lasso season 4 happening, as well.

It remains to be seen if we get more Ted Lasso after the third season drops the curtains, but all we know for sure is it’s been one heck of a ride.

Ted Lasso has been equal parts dramatic and hilarious, and each character has brought their own personality and flavor to the hit series.

One may even wonder which characters are perhaps a bit underrated, which might be overrated, and which Ted Lasso characters are simply the best.

I’ve got you covered there, as I prepare to unveil my official Ted Lasso character rankings. If you’re unsure of who the best Ted Lasso characters are, or just eat up everything Ted Lasso, read on.

7. Nathan Shelley

Also known as “Nate the Great”, Nathan Shelley grew into a hated character, but he’s still one of the best characters in Ted Lasso.

Shelley starts out as a shy and overlooked member of the AFC Richmond staff, and is quickly taken under Ted Lasso’s wing.

Over time, Shelley gains confidence and even becomes a key cog of the coaching staff and helps with game-planning and strategy.

Shelley would land in a higher spot in my Ted Lasso character rankings, but his arc takes a dark turn in season two.

He already had shades of being unlikable, too, as his bouts with weak confidence and his identity have impacted some of his decision-making.

Truth be told, there were probably a lot of clues that Nathan was going to be the big bad for this show.

Things only get worse in Ted Lasso season 3. While Shelley has his moments in the first two seasons, he’s a hard character to like, so I’ll keep him grounded in the 7 spot.

6. Keeley Jones

Jones is a nice source of comedic relief, and she’s first introduced as a model, as well as AFC Richmond star footballer Jamie Tartt’s girlfriend.

Some might even say she’s the true backbone of this series. I won’t go that far, but I get the sentiment.

She eventually makes her own mark after splitting with the unpredictable Tartt, but befriends Ted early on and reveals herself to be a very likable and trustworthy character.

Jones doesn’t deliver heavy-hitting moments, but she steals scenes frequently and is a solid voice of reason throughout the series.

5. Jamie Tartt

Tartt starts out as extremely unlikable, but even from the beginning he’s easily one of Ted Lasso’s best characters.

He’s arguably AFC Richmond’s biggest star, and fans are never sure what to think of him due to his rocky relationship with his father.

Tartt is great in a villainous role, but he’s even better when he ultimately comes around and turns into a good teammate and friend.

Tartt also offers up some of the funniest moments in Ted Lasso, and is a key fixture for the team. He was a catalyst for the first two seasons of the show, and he pulled off a difficult “full circle” character arc.

His character isn’t as useful with the show nearing an end, but to this point, there’s no denying he is one of the best characters in Ted Lasso.

4. Rebecca Welton

Fans are introduced to Welton immediately in Ted Lasso, as she goes out of her way to hire a coach she feels will fail.

The goal? To torture ex-husband Rupert who left her and made her feel used and abandoned.

While Welton does all she can to ensure AFC Richmond fails, she overlooks the impact Ted Lasso can have on people – including herself.

Lasso brings her perfectly baked biscuits daily (even though they weren’t so yummy at first) and quickly wins her over, forcing her to admit she was wrong and fully back Lasso and the club.

Welton grows from there, eventually pairing with Jones and even having a brief relationship with one of the team’s players. Every step of the way, her characters shows true growth and she serves as a beacon of hope for women who have been spurned in a number of ways.

She’s grown into one of my personal favorite Ted Lasso characters, but she’s not quite at #1 just yet.

3. Coach Beard

Coach Bear is among my three favorite Ted Lasso characters. He is Ted Lasso’s top assistant and right hand man, and besides Nathan and eventually Roy Kent, is the only person on the staff who seems to know what he’s doing.

While Beard is paramount to the team’s success, he also helps Ted Lasso navigate the insanity of shifting from American football to soccer, and he also offers endless one-liners that provide comedic relief.

Beard is mostly a role player in the grand scheme of things, but his stand alone episode happens to be one of the better Ted Lasso episodes ever made.

2. Roy Kent

There is a pretty legitimate argument for Roy Kent as the best character in Ted Lasso. I’m not sure anyone carries themselves more uniquely in the series, and his evolution throughout the show is fun to watch.

If you’re going to make it near the top of my Ted Lasso rankings, you need to be funny, likable, and have a real impact on every single season.

I’d say Roy Kent fits the bill. Not only does Kent curse every chance he gets, but he’s a constant source of confidence for the team, and an ironic source for empathy.

Kent first leaves his mark as a member of the team in season one, and later makes further impact as one of the team’s coaches.

From his days as a soccer star, to coaching and being Keeley Jones’ love interest, Kent gives you a little bit of everything. That isn’t something every Ted Lasso character can say.

Ultimately, I wouldn’t say Roy Kent is the best Ted Lasso character, but he’s astonishingly close.

1. Ted Lasso

I’d be more than okay with a few Ted Lasso characters taking the top spot, but it’s impossible to fawn over this series without paying Jason Sudeikis some respect.

The whole idea behind this shown is born from one of Ted Lasso’s core concepts; believe.

Just as good as his near-always upbeat persona? The sobering crash he endures due to his divorce and the pressure of a situation he probably wasn’t fully ready for.

Ted takes us on a roller coaster of emotions through the first two seasons, but despite some panic attacks, depression, and some failures, he remains positive and works hard to get the most out of everyone.

Lasso also has delivered some absurdly memorable lines, as well as some amazing moments.

The scene where Ted beats Rupert in a game of darts is probably at the very top for me, but you could pull any Ted scene and marvel at the character’s ability to put a positive spin on things.

There is no Ted Lasso without this character, so ranking him #1 in my Ted Lasso character rankings was ultimately a pretty easy choice.

Honorable Mentions

There are several top Ted Lasso characters that didn’t make the cut for my top-7. The first one out is probably Leslie Higgins, who is played by Jeremy Swift and is very funny and extremely likable.

Other side characters that have proven to be solid scene-steals include Sam Obisanya, Colin Hughes, Dani Rojas, and even Rupert Mannion. There’s also the much hated reporter, Trent Crimm.

From top to bottom, Ted Lasso is incredibly well cast. That said, not everyone can be considered among the very best Ted Lasso characters.

You may rank them differently or stretch your Ted Lasso rankings out to a top-10, but this is where I landed when carving out my top-7.