“Chad Powers” isn’t just a punch-line from a viral Eli Manning sketch anymore; it’s now the title of Hulu’s most-anticipated fall comedy.
Slated for a September 30, 2025 debut, the half-hour series stars Glen Powell as Russ Holliday — a disgraced quarterback who reinvents himself under the alias Chad Powers to salvage his football dreams.
Below, we break down the release strategy, plot details, cast list and why the Chad Powers brand could be Hulu’s next big MVP.
A Viral Origin Story
The seed for Chad Powers was planted in a 2022 ESPN+ skit produced by Peyton and Eli Manning’s Omaha Productions.
The bit saw Eli donning a wig, prosthetic nose and the pseudonym Chad Powers to prank Penn State’s walk-on tryouts. The clip’s “think fast, run fast” one-liner amassed millions of views, catapulting the character into internet folklore.
Fast-forward three years, and Hulu, along with co-creators Powell and Loki show-runner Michael Waldron, are expanding that two-minute gag into a scripted six-episode comedy.
Plot — When Russ Becomes Chad
According to Hulu’s synopsis, former college prodigy Russ Holliday tanks his NFL prospects after an off-field scandal.
Blackballed by scouts, he crashes at his mom’s house, plays Call of Duty and sulks — until desperation breeds his alter ego.
Under a bad blond wig, tinted contacts and a thick Southern drawl, Russ re-enrolls at tiny Gardner-Duke University as Chad Powers, a “25-year-old freshman” with a cannon arm and an aw-shucks attitude.
The hook: Gardner-Duke’s coach (Steve Zahn) is so hungry for wins he doesn’t bother vetting Chad’s paperwork. Hijinks ensue as:
- Chad shreds defenses while hiding his real identity.
- A relentless sports podcaster (Wynn Everett) smells a fraud.
- Teammates recruit Chad for frat parties, forcing him to juggle keg stands with film study.
- Meanwhile, Russ’s ex-fiancée (Perry Mattfeld) starts dating an ESPN analyst, increasing the risk of exposure.
Cast & Characters
| Actor | Role | Why It Matters to “Chad Powers” |
|---|---|---|
| Glen Powell | Russ Holliday / Chad Powers | The Top Gun star transforms with prosthetics and a deep Southern twang. |
| Perry Mattfeld | Delaney Reeves | Russ’s ex who might blow Chad’s cover. |
| Quentin Plair | DeShawn “Diesel” Carter | Gardner-Duke’s veteran wide-out and Chad’s roommate. |
| Wynn Everett | Kendra Stone | True-crime-style podcaster looking for her next scoop. |
| Frankie A. Rodriguez | Marco Alcázar | Social-media team intern who films Chad’s every move. |
| Steve Zahn | Coach Buck Killian | Win-starved, sponsorship-hungry coach who sees Chad as ticket to glory. |
Behind the camera, Peyton and Eli Manning serve as executive producers, ensuring the jokes land authentically for gridiron die-hards. Showrunner duties are split between Powell (via Barnstorm Productions) and Waldron (via Anomaly Pictures).
Release Rollout & Episode Schedule
Hulu will drop the Chad Powers pilot plus two additional episodes on Sept 30, followed by weekly releases every Tuesday through Oct 28. The staggered schedule echoes Hulu’s strategy with Only Murders in the Building, keeping social chatter alive as each “bad-behavior cliff-hanger” hits Twitter (sorry, X).
| Date | Episode | Title* |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 30 | 1–3 | “Think Fast, Run Fast,” “New Kid, Old Tricks,” “QB Sneak” |
| Oct 7 | 4 | “Blitzed” |
| Oct 14 | 5 | “Eligible Receiver” |
| Oct 21 | 6 | “Two-Minute Warning” |
| Oct 28 | Finale | “The Reveal” |
*Working titles subject to change, but each one prominently features Chad Powers in the logline.
Why Glen Powell’s Transformation Matters
After Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone but You and next month’s Twisters, Powell could have coasted on leading-man charm. Instead, he’s buried under silicone to lampoon sports-celebrity culture. Early set photos show him unrecognizable, with receding hairline, slight beer belly and crooked smile. Powell told Variety he studied real college walk-ons—“the dudes still chasing Friday-night-lights glory at 24”—to nail Chad Powers’ swagger.
Connection to Real Chad Powers (Eli Manning)
Eli’s cameo is locked for episode 5, where he confronts Russ at a quarterback camp: “Nice disguise, Chad. Shame your 40-time still sucks.” Expect inside jokes about Peyton’s forehead, Brady’s retirement and perhaps a #ChadPowersChallenge on TikTok.
Will Chad Powers Score a Season 2?
Hulu hasn’t confirmed, but Waldron revealed the writers’ room already mapped a sophomore arc: Chad enters the transfer portal, courting SEC giants while dodging NCAA investigators. Ratings will decide if the saga continues, but Hulu’s 2025 push for original sitcoms (Life & Beth S2, Only Murders S4) suggests they want a sports-comedy anchor. If social buzz matches the sketch’s 70 million views, Chad Powers could run the option for years.
Final Play
Crude locker-room banter meets heartfelt underdog tropes in Chad Powers. With Glen Powell’s full-send performance, Michael Waldron’s razor-sharp dialogue and the Mannings’ authentic football flair, Hulu’s latest gamble is primed to convert casual viewers into die-hard Chad Powers fans. So mark Sept 30 on your calendar, lace up those cleats and remember the mantra that started it all: Think fast, run fast, Chad Powers.
