Apple TV’s hit comedy Ted Lasso featured a touching tribute to the late Joel Stevens in Season 4, Episode 5, “Riches of Embarrassment.”
Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 5 saw AFC Richmond’s women’s team face off against Chelsea, while Ted (Jason Sudeikis), Beard (Brendan Hunt), Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), and Keeley (Juno Temple) navigated romantic hurdles. Before the end credits rolled, Wilson Phillips’ hit song “Hold On” began to play, and the words “In memory of Joel Stevens” flashed on-screen.
Viewers will likely be wondering who is Joel Stevens? And what was his relationship to Ted Lasso? So Decider reached out to Ted Lasso reps at Apple TV in hopes of getting more info.
While we await a response, we did some research of our own. So if you’re curious who Joel Stevens was and why his tribute card was included at the end of Ted Lasso Season 4, Episode 5, here’s what we learned.
Who Is Joel Stevens On Ted Lasso? Season 4, Episode 5’s Tribute Card Explained
While still unconfirmed, it appears the Joel Stevens Ted Lasso paid tribute to at the end of Episode 405 was a beloved family member, friend, and football coach/fan who died on August 15, 2025 after a battle with cancer.
Back in 2025, Burgess Hill Town Junior FC posted a touching tribute to the English football team’s coach, Stevens, and late team manager, Graham George, on its Facebook and Instagram pages, writing, “It is with immense sadness that we share the news that one of our U14s pathway boys; teams has recently suffered the devastating loss of not one, but two hugely loved and inspirational figures of our club family.”
The posts went on to call Joel “a larger-than-life character who wore his heart on his sleeve. His cheeky grin, quick wit, and banter with the boys made him truly special. He was a mentor, a mate, and a coach who instilled a style of fast, fearless football that will always remain part of the team’s DNA.”
“Both Graham and Joel gave so much of themselves to our club, and their legacies will live on through the players, coaches, and families they inspired. Their passion, humour, and love for the game will remain at the core of everything this team does,” the posts continues.
The in memoriam to Stevens comes just beyond the one-year anniversary of his death. His legacy will live on through the many lives he touched, the football players he coached, and now through Ted Lasso‘s thoughtful tribute.
Decider reached out to Apple TV for more info and will update this article as soon as we receive a response.
Stay tuned for more Ted Lasso Season 4 coverage from Decider.
