How old is Nate in Ted Lasso? Character's age and why his hair is gray by Season 2, explored

Ted Lasso
Nick Mohammed is Nate in Ted Lasso (Image Source: Apple TV+)

The acclaimed Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso ended with its triumphant third season last year, but fans are as excited as ever when talking about the show. While Ted was the focus of the comedy series, other characters like Nathan "Nate" Shelley also contributed to advance the narrative.

Played by actor Nick Mohammed, Nate emerged as one of the complex figures in Ted Lasso, highlighting a mix of ambition, fear, and pride. Nate is introduced in the first season, in which he's driven by a desire for success, often pushing himself and others to achieve more.

His journey began as a kit man for AFC Richmond and it later evolved into a more established role. However, as the show moves into a new season, fans notice a change not just in Nate's hair color, but also in his behavior.

Nate's hair color from jet black to fully grey by the season finale is considered one of the notable changes in Ted Lasso as it reflects his character growth and emotional turmoil. As for Nate's age, the show didn't reveal his exact age but is believed to be in his late 30s or early 40s.

From his relationship with Ted turning sour, to finally being able to start a relationship with Jade, Nate has had numerous experiences in the show. Continue reading to learn more about the character and his storyline.


The reason behind Nate's grey hair in Ted Lasso Season 2

Nate and Ted reconciled in the end (Image Source: Applet TV+)
Nate and Ted reconciled in the end (Image Source: Applet TV+)

As explained earlier, Nick Mohammed's character sees a massive transformation in Ted Lasso. Nate goes from a shy and often bullied individual to an arrogant and rude assistant coach.

While Ted respected him and showed kindness, Nate didn't feel the same way about him. Instead, he became envious of Ted’s attention towards other team members and began to exhibit passive-aggressive behavior in Season 2.

His dissatisfaction with Ted peaked in Season 2 Episode 6 "The Signal" when Ted had a panic attack during a match. Instead of helping him, Nate took the opportunity to take charge and even called substitute players and ordered them to play a defense strategy.

Also Read: Does Nate end up with Jade in Ted Lasso? Relationship timeline explored

Despite taking advantage of Ted's situation, Nate continues to feel being in his shadows. As a result, he ends up betraying the football coach by revealing his panic attack to the press.

These steps marked the beginning of a darker phase in Nate's journey, resulting in his grey hair. Additionally, Nick Mohammed also explained the reason behind Nate's changed hair color through X (earlier Twitter) saying:

"In the way bitterness, guilt, shame and stress can often change someone's appearance, they thought it would be fun to track Nate's spiral in this way (in my head Nate was transforming into [the white-haired Portugese football coach] José Mourinho!)"

Nate's greying hair serves as a visual cue to fans about the deepening stress, bitterness, guilt, and shame he feels throughout season 2.

After facing notable challenges and emotional turmoil, Nate finally reconciles with Ted and goes back to his old team after leaving West Ham United. Both, his physical transformation and storyline in Ted Lasso left a lasting impact on fans, as it comes to full circle.


Also Read: Does Rebecca fall in love with Ted Lasso? Explaining who she ends up with and how

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Edited by Zainab Shaikh