Kyle Chandler worked as a volunteer firefighter while filming the series. He worked 24 hours a week at his local firehouse without telling the cast and crew. In 2011, he taped two local PSAs urging viewers to become volunteer firefighters.
Taylor Kitsch drank two beers in his audition tape for Tim Riggins. He finished one tallboy, then opened a second one before introducing himself in his video and doing the "Texas Forever" scene. When he was called in to test, Peter Berg interviewed him sports reporter-style.
There were no rehearsals for Friday Night Lights (2006) and for each scene, three cameras operators simultaneously followed the cast (who were given body mics) wherever they wandered off to, as opposed to standard TV production where the actors are given marks for where to sit or stand. There were some problems that arose from this, one being that NBC president Kevin Reilly told producers to cut back on the "jiggly" camera style after the pilot.
Tom Arnold helped save the series from cancellation after its second season. He reportedly single-handedly arranged a dinner that would set the groundwork for DirecTV and NBC to partner together for future plans pertaining to show's airtime.
Connie Britton and Brad Leland both had roles in the original Friday Night Lights (2004) movie, also directed by series creator Peter Berg. Their roles were identical to those they have in the series, the coach's wife and a football booster respectively.