In 1971 high school football was everything to the people of Alexandria, Virginia. But when the local school board was forced to integrate an all black school with an all white school, the very foundation of football's great tradition was put to the test. In what was a potentially volatile situation with far reaching consequences, a black coach - Herman Boone (Denzel Washington) - was brought up from South Carolina and hired as head coach of the T.C. Williams High Titans over Bill Yoast (Will Patton), a white coach with several years seniority and a steadfast following.

As Boone and Yoast learned to work together, they found they had much more than football in common. Both were men of integrity and honor, with a strong work ethic. Although from vastly different backgrounds, these two coaches not only molded a group of angry, unfocused boys into a dynamic, winning team, but helped to guide them into becoming responsible, caring young men. Their determination to work together and win was a triumph of the spirit and brought together a town torn by prejudice and intolerance; their love of the game initiated a lifelong friendship.