All American: When & Why Did Taye Diggs Leave the Show?

All American: When & Why Did Taye Diggs Leave the Show?

As a long-time fan of the show, I must say I was taken aback by Taye Diggs’ departure from All American. Having followed his character, Billy Baker, since the very beginning, it felt like losing a dear friend. His exit in Season 5 was as shocking as a fourth-down pass intercepted at the goal line!


After the confirmation of All American’s renewal for Season 7 in June 2024, fans find themselves pondering the reason behind Taye Diggs’ departure from the series. A key cast member, his exit has left fans taken aback. Furthermore, a common question amongst them is whether Taye might rejoin the show in its upcoming seventh season.

Let me share with you the details behind Taye Diggs’ departure from All American, as well as speculations regarding his potential comeback in Season 7.

When and why did Taye Diggs leave All American?

In Season 5, Taye Diggs’ character, Billy Baker from All American, met a tragic end as he was taken off the show following his character’s death.

According to The Direct’s report, in a TV series, Jalen Diggs portrayed the character of Billy Baker, who initially worked as a football coach at Beverly Hills High School. Later, he moved to South Crenshaw High and there, he discovered and recruited Spencer James, an exceptionally talented young football player played by Daniel Ezra. Tragically, Billy Baker’s storyline ended in Season 5 when he sacrificed his life to save a student.

As I sat down for a heart-to-heart with TVLine, I shared my decision to bid adieu to the show, explaining, “I was truly enjoying myself. It was simply an intuition that struck me, and I chose to listen to it. Somewhere around the midpoint of the fourth season, this feeling became too strong to ignore.” I was fortunate enough to have a close relationship with the showrunner, and I’m happy to say that our parting was harmonious. We worked together to craft an exit strategy, taking care of storylines and other details, ensuring everything was handled professionally.

Will Taye Diggs return as Billy Baker in Season 7?

Taye Diggs’ return as Billy Baker in All American Season 7 is uncertain as of writing.

While it appears that Billy’s character had a conclusive ending in Season 5, there remains a slim chance he could reappear in future episodes. The portrayal of Billy’s death served as a fitting finale to his storyline. Notably, Taye Diggs made a guest appearance in Season 6, and reprised his role through flashback scenes in Episode 8.

Although Billy’s performance on the show might have appeared as his final act, creator Nkechi Okoro Carroll hinted otherwise during a recent TVLine interview. She emphasized the significance of the character in All American and suggested that there’s potential for Billy Baker to reappear if the narrative calls for it.

I’m thrilled to share that the showrunner mentioned, “Billy is more than welcome to rejoin us whenever it feels organic and right for him. If there are moments when his return seems fitting for Taye and our show, we would be delighted to make that happen. We’re keeping all possibilities open, including Billy’s potential comeback.”

Currently, neither I nor those behind the scenes of All American have given any word about Billy Baker’s return in Season 7. However, should things ever shift, and we make different choices, there might be a chance for that to happen.

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2024-08-14 00:10