Ted Lasso Finale: Did You Catch These 25+ Callbacks to Previous Episodes?
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We know Ted Lasso would prefer we all act like goldfish. But during its own series finale, the Apple comedy’s memory went way beyond the last 10 seconds.
Rather, Wednesday’s Season 3 ender — which ostensibly served as Ted Lasso‘s final episode ever, despite Apple TV+’s reluctance to confirm as much — was packed with fun Easter eggs and callbacks to previous episodes, which we’ve rounded up for you in the list below.
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Many of the finale’s parallels came from Ted Lasso‘s earliest installments, and even casual fans probably caught some of them, like Ted’s reprise of his running man dance from the series premiere, or the fan who took another “ussie” with Ted at the airport. Still, there are quite a few deep cuts here, from a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Cheers reference to a very intentional wardrobe choice for Rebecca.
If nothing else, several of the callbacks below prove just how far these characters have come in the last three seasons — perhaps none more than Jamie Tartt.
Keep scrolling to see all of the finale’s Easter eggs — spoiler alert, of course! — then drop a comment with any we might have missed! (And go here for the rest of our extensive Ted Lasso series finale coverage.)
1. Jamie Shows Us the Money
First Reference: When Nate comes around to collect money for Sam’s birthday gift, Jamie shoves his chewed gum into the box instead (in Season 1, Episode 2).
Finale Reference: When Jamie is fined £200 for falling asleep during team meditation, he gamely contributes the money he owes — and a little extra.
Bonus Callback! Jamie’s “Icon” hat, which he wore quite a bit in previous seasons, now says “I, Cog,” seemingly indicating that he’s truly embraced being a teammate.
2. Roy Gives Keeley a Scare
First Reference: After packing up her car, Keeley is shocked to find Roy suddenly standing nearby when she closes her trunk (in Season 1, Episode 5).
Finale Reference: Having apparently learned nothing about not sneaking up on women in parking lots, Roy accidentally frightens Keeley the exact same way as she heads into the Richmond clubhouse.
3. Roy Kent, Julie Andrews Superfan
First Reference: Roy reveals to Ted, Beard, Higgins and Trent Crimm that he’s long carried a torch for actress Julie Andrews, naming The Sound of Music‘s Maria as his favorite role of hers (in Season 3, Episode 3).
Finale Reference: The Greyhounds perform The Sound of Music‘s “So Long, Farewell” as a goodbye to Ted, and Roy noticeably mouths the lyrics from the sidelines.
4. ‘Is Everybody Decent?’
First Reference: In her first appearance on screen, Keeley enters the Greyhounds’ locker room with her eyes shielded, asking if the men are sufficiently clothed… only to be disappointed when they are (in Season 1, Episode 1).
Finale Reference: “Is everybody decent?” Keeley once again asks, eyes covered — and, yep, disappointed again.
5. I Don’t Always Drink Beer, But When I Do…
First Reference: Aided by a ridiculous photo shoot, Jamie becomes the brand ambassador for Darsteiner beer (in Season 1, Episode 5).
Finale Reference: Jamie and Roy enjoy that same pilsner when they go out for a drink after practice.
6. Ted’s Tutor Returns!
First Appearance: Ted takes notice of neighborhood football enthusiast Shannon, who eventually engages him in a friendly dribble (in Season 1, Episode 2).
Finale Appearance: Shannon attends the Richmond vs. West Ham match with friends.
7. The ‘Rainbow’ Couple Shines Again
First Appearance: The season ticket holders break the fourth wall to share their unlikely love story — which may or may not have been the basis for the movie Titanic (in Season 2, Episode 5).
Finale Appearance: Husband and wife are seated for Richmond’s final match of the season.
8. Jamie Hits the Books
First Reference: Ted gifts each Richmond player a different book, but Jamie immediately tosses his copy of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Beautiful and Damned into the trash (in Season 1, Episode 3).
Finale Reference: The Beautiful and Damned is now where Jamie stashes his piece of the ripped “Believe” sign that the Greyhounds put back together. (And the book looks quite well-worn these days!)
9. The Finale Goes Nuts
First Reference: While firing George, Rebecca tells Richmond’s onetime coach that she’s sick of his testicles popping out of his short shorts (in Season 1, Episode 1).
Finale Reference: Coach Cartrick’s junk is on full display after he is pushed to the ground by new boss Rupert.
10. ‘Wanker! Wanker!’
First Reference: As Ted and Coach Beard arrive on the pitch for their first match since getting hired, they’re met with a deafening “Wanker!” chant from the crowd (in Season 1, Episode 2).
Finale Reference: The same chant is now reserved for Rupert after he shoves Coach Cartrick and storms off the pitch.
11. The Offside Rule
First Reference: “Just curious: Could you explain the offside rule?” Trent Crimm asks Ted ahead of his first official match as manager (in Season 1, Episode 2). Ted can’t, and the offside rule continues to confuse him throughout the series.
Finale Reference: When West Ham appears to score a final goal over Richmond, it’s only Ted — not Beard or Roy — who correctly notices a player was offside.
12. Nate’s Trick Play Saves the Day
First Reference: Nate devises a solid trick play for the team to try during training, which involves Sam scoring a goal while Jamie serves as decoy, much to the latter’s chagrin (in Season 1, Episode 3).
Finale Reference: Sam, Jamie and Bumbercatch pull off that same play flawlessly in Richmond’s final seconds against West Ham — and better yet, Jamie gives the Oscar-worthy “Pass me the ball, please!” performance that Ted had asked of him in Season 1.
13. Ted Does the Running Man
First Reference: The first time we ever see Ted, it’s via locker room footage of his celebration with the Wichita State Shockers, where Ted’s doing the running man dance as his team cheers (in Season 1, Episode 1).
Finale Reference: Ted shows off the same moves after AFC Richmond clinches the big win against West Ham.
14. ‘Can I Get an Ussie?’
First Appearance: On his flight to England, Ted is approached for a selfie — or rather, an “ussie” — by a young man who saw Ted’s viral running man dance online (in Season 1, Episode 1).
Finale Appearance: Ted runs into the same fan as he’s about to board his flight back to the States… only this time, instead of thinking it’s ridiculous that Ted is attempting to coach U.K. football, the young man now thinks it’s stupid that Ted would ever go back to America after his success with Richmond.
Bonus Callback! Before their flight home takes off, Ted asks Beard if they’re nuts for going back Stateside, just as he asked him in the pilot episode if they were nuts for venturing across the pond in the first place.
15. Same Style, Different Day
First Reference: Rebecca dons an orange top, black skirt and black blazer upon meeting Ted for the first time (in Season 1, Episode 1)…
Finale Reference: …only to wear the exact same ensemble when she surprises Ted with an airport goodbye.
16. A Familiar Face in the Friendly Skies
First Appearance: The flight attendant escorts Henry on his trip home to Kansas City (in Season 3, Episode 1).
Finale Appearance: The same flight attendant asks Ted if he’d like to get off the plane to be with Coach Beard, who is faking appendicitis.
17. Young Rebecca Is the Dutchman’s Daughter!
First Appearance: Newcomer Susanna Redhead first shows up as a young version of Rebecca, whom Rebecca envisions in the mirror as she prepares to face Rupert and other intimidating football club owners (in Season 3, Episode 10).
Finale Appearance: Redhead later puts in a fleeting appearance as Jelka, the young daughter of the Dutchman Rebecca met in Amsterdam. (Fun fact: Per the finale’s closing credits, the Dutchman’s true name is Matthijs.)
18. The Black Tape Is Back
First Reference: Ever the gentleman, Ted uses black tape to censor a topless photo of Keeley that Jamie’s got hanging in his locker (in Season 1, Episode 1).
Finale Reference: Upon becoming AFC Richmond’s new manager, Roy uses the same tape technique on a drawing in his office — which just happens to be one of his niece’s “unnervingly accurate” charcoal sketches of a woman’s chest, first seen in Season 2.
19. Sharp-Dressed Kit Man
First Appearance: Nate proudly wears the suit Ted bought for him during Richmond’s match against Sheffield Wednesday (in Season 2, Episode 5).
Finale Appearance: A newly redeemed Nate wears the suit to dinner with Jade and his parents.
20. Cheers to Cheers!
First Appearance: Bartender Sam Malone straightens a picture of Geronimo at Cheers (in Cheers‘ series finale).
Finale Appearance: Bartender Mae straightens a picture of Geronimo at the Crown & Anchor. (Fun fact: Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis is the real-life nephew of George Wendt, aka Cheers‘ Norm.)
21. Dr. Sharon’s First Line of Defense
First Appearance: Ted slips an Army man into Sharon’s beer (in Season 2, Episode 11).
Finale Appearance: The Army man has a permanent spot on Sharon’s desk as Roy begins therapy.
22. Nate Practices Kintsugi
First Reference: Rebecca’s mother’s psychic shows off a unique bowl in her house, explaining that the Japanese art of kintsugi mends broken things with gold, to create something beautiful while embracing its flaws (in Season 3, Episode 3).
Finale Reference: Nate uses the same practice to repair Ted’s “Believe” sign, painting over the tears with gold and rehanging it in the Greyhounds’ locker room.
23. Dani Rojas… in a Throuple!
First Appearance: Traumatized from having accidentally killed a dog during Richmond’s last game, Dani later wakes up from a nightmare, revealing two women asleep in his bed (in Season 2, Episode 1).
Finale Appearance: When Coach Beard and Jane get married in a flash forward, both of the women are there as Dani’s dates.
24. Beard Sees ‘Red’
First Appearance: Beard goes home with Red, gets chased across town by her boyfriend Darren (in Season 2, Episode 9).
Finale Appearance: Red and Darren attend Beard and Jane’s wedding — and they have a baby now!
25. ‘Be a Goldfish’
First Reference: After Sam slips up during practice, Ted urges him to “be a goldfish,” an animal so happy because it only has a 10-second memory (in Season 1, Episode 2).
Finale Reference: Having returned home to Kansas, Ted gives the same advice to son Henry after he misses a goal during his soccer game.
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