Jason Sudeikis reached out to Jim Harbaugh for 'Ted Lasso' notes

Jason Sudeikis credits his high school basketball coach for inspiring the most beloved fictional soccer coach in the world, but the 46-year-old actor also called upon a more well-known coach while creating Ted Lasso.

"Early on, Jim Harbaugh, he was helpful," Sudeikis told Seth Meyers on Late Night. "I mean, I actually reached out to him because I met him years ago when he helped us out on Detroiters. ... We stayed in touch, and [I was] asking him, 'Hey, what do you wear on game days? Like, do you show up—do you bring a little duffel bag?' And he's like, 'No, I just show up in khakis and a sweatshirt.' I was like, 'OK, well, that's what I'm gonna do.' So I feel like there's part of him that feels ownership over the character."

Sudeikis also listed Steve Nash and Steve Kerr as informants.
Ted Lasso stars Sudeikis as the titular endearing manager of fictional English football club AFC Richmond as they bob up and down from the English Premier League. Ted was hired at first by club owner Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) with malicious intent, as she sought to sabotage her abusive ex-husband, and Ted was a Kansas college football coach with no knowledge of soccer. Of course, he won everyone over.

The breakout Apple TV Plus series earned a record-breaking 20 Primetime Emmy nominations and took home seven at last month's ceremony, including outstanding comedy series and outstanding lead actor in a comedy series for Sudeikis. 

The second season finale began streaming today, and while fans impatiently wait for a third season, they can get more of Sudeikis as the host of Saturday Night Live on Oct. 23. The 46-year-old actor and writer was an SNL mainstay from 2003-13.

Watch Sudeikis' full Late Night appearance below.