Episode 5 of Ted Lasso season 4 ended on a bit of a somber note, and no, we’re not talking about the ending of the episode itself. After the final scene of the episode wrapped and the screen faded to black, Apple TV’s Emmy-winning comedy closed the episode by honoring the late Joel Stevens.
"In memory of Joel Stevens,” read the dedication card, which aired directly after Ted Lasso season 4, episode 5.
As is often the case after an episode of television concludes with a dedication card, fans were quick to question Stevens’ connection to Ted Lasso. It’s always understandable, as fans are always curious to know the role the individual played in creating the show they love so dearly.
At this time, Apple TV has not released an official statement to confirm Stevens’ connection to the show, and Stevens does not appear in the credits for the show’s episodes, which hints that there are two likely explanations as to his connection to the show.
The first is that he was a member of the production crew working behind the scenes to help create the show. While the cast of Ted Lasso is quite large, the ensemble we see on-screen is just a small part of the bigger team responsible for creating the show and helping it to get to air. There are thousands of individuals who work on shows such as Ted Lasso in varying roles, each playing a major role in their own right. Often, many in these roles are not credited directly in episodes or on a show’s IMDb page. As such, there is a chance that Stevens was among the many talented individuals who played a part in making Ted Lasso.
When dedication cards are included in an episode of a hit series, they can also be used to honor the legacy of someone close to a member of the production. This seems to be the case with Ted Lasso’s dedication to Stevens, as there are strong indications that the tribute, which aired at the end of episode 5, was designed to honor a man who made quite an impact in the world of youth football.
In August 2025, the official Facebook page of the Burgess Hill Town Football Club announced the passing of Joel Stevens, the team’s coach. According to the post, Stevens passed away after a brief battle with cancer, with the club describing the late coach as a core part of the DNA of the team.
“Joel was 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.”
There is no immediate connection between Stevens and Ted Lasso made evident by the Facebook post alone; however, shortly after Stevens’ passing, a GoFundMe was set up in his honor to help raise funds for the St. Peter and St. James Charitable Trust. While there is no confirmed connection, the top donor of the fundraiser was “Phoebe W.," which could very well have been actress and writer Phoebe Walsh.
Walsh has written several episodes of Ted Lasso including season 4, episode 5, “Riches of Embarrassment." She also stars on the show as Jayne Payne, Coach Beard’s unpredictable on-again, off-again romantic partner and eventual wife (though we’d come to learn the pair split up sometime between seasons 3 and 4). Interestingly, not only did Walsh write episode 5, but the episode also marked her return as Jayne on-camera as well. The fact that the top donor for the GoFundMe happens to be a “Phoebe W” and the dedication to Stevens occurred in an episode that welcomed Walsh’s return does seem to hint there was some connection between Stevens and the show.
It’s also worth noting that one of the other top donors happened to be a Brett G., which could very well have been Brett Goldstein, who plays Roy Kent in the series and serves as an executive producer on the show.
Only time will tell whether Apple TV or any member of the Ted Lasso cast directly comments on the dedication, but it's clear that Stevens left quite a lasting impact. On behalf of the Show Snob team, our thoughts are with Stevens' loved ones.
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