Before Powell stepped into the titular role, retired NFL quarterback Eli Manning starred as Chad Powers in a 2022 episode of“Eli’s Places.” In the original Chad Powers skit, Manning wore prosthetics, a fake mustache, and a wig to blend in at Penn State’s walk-on tryouts.

I watched the first two episodes of Hulu's new football show, "Chad Powers," on Wednesday afternoon. It's a solid start to a sports show, which are typically pretty hit or miss. The show, which stars Glen Powell,

The affable yet thin Hulu comedy “Chad Powers” is a redux on several fronts. The basic premise — a silly gag set against the backdrop of high-level football, extrapolated into a feel-good sports series named for its protagonist — has obvious parallels to that of the Apple TV+ hit “Ted Lasso.

Eli Manning is happy for Glen Powell, who co-created and starred in Hulu's new series, Chad Powers, which just premiered.

For Powell, the story is just as much about transformation as it is about football. His 2023 film Hitman toyed with the thrill of inhabiting multiple identities; Chad Powers expands a real-life stunt into a meditation on failure, accountability, and the cost of reinvention.

Hulu's latest sports comedy, Chad Powers, premiered on September 30, 2025, and has quickly grabbed viewers' attention.

"Chad Powers" stars Glen Powell as a disgraced former football player on a fictional Georgia team who seeks redemption via prosthetics and a rube character he makes up.

Is Chad Powers a real person? Is Hulu’s comedy Chad Powers based on a true story? And what role does Chad Powers ‘ executive producer Eli Manning play in inspiring the show? Here’s what to know about the real-life inspo behind Glen Powell’s titular character.

Quentin Plair as Coach Byrd, Clayne Crawford as Coach Dobbs, Xavier Mills as Nishan Leonard, and Colton Ryan as Gerry Dougan. Each adds depth to the Catfish team dynamic, rounding out the world around Russ/Chad.

Looking for something to watch this weekend? Check out "Chad Powers" on Hulu, "Monster: The Ed Gein Story" on Netflix," "The Naked Gun" on Paramount+, and