Chad Powers is the fictional alias of Russ Holliday, the lead character in the Hulu comedy series "Chad Powers," played by Glen Powell.

The show premiered on September 30, 2025, and draws from a real 2022 ESPN+ skit where NFL legend Eli Manning disguised himself as "Chad Powers" to crash Penn State football tryouts, complete with a fake mustache, wig, and goofy persona that went viral. Glen Powell transforms into this dim-witted, fish- loving quarterback from West Virginia who joins a struggling Southern college team after his original career implodes due to bad behavior—prosthetics and all, nailing the dual role of cocky star turned undercover everyman.

Origin Story

Picture this: Eli Manning, post-retirement prankster, shuffles into tryouts looking like a mulleted reject from a '90s comedy, mumbling about his "funny face" and dodging backstory questions—pure gold that caught Hollywood's eye. Powell and co-creator Michael Waldron expanded it into a full series, with executive producers like Peyton and Eli Manning ensuring authentic football vibes, from shotgun snaps to locker-room chaos. It's less about gridiron glory and more about the hilarious tightrope of maintaining a lie while fumbling through small-school life.

Why It's Trending Now

As of early 2026, "Chad Powers" remains a streaming hit, with recent IMDb buzz around comedy tone debates and Glen Powell's "weird little freak" performance drawing raves for blending humor with raw athletic prep. Fans love the Manning brothers' hands-on role, turning a one-off stunt into a cautionary tale of reinvention—think "The Program" meets "White Chicks" on a catfish budget. Social media clips from trailers, like media day pressers, keep the meme alive, especially among college football diehards.

Key Facts

  • Creator Stars : Glen Powell (star, co-writer, producer) channels Russ/Chad's duality, mastering QB mechanics for realism.
  • Real Inspiration : Eli's 2022 "Eli's Places" skit—undercover hilarity that birthed a phenomenon.
  • Premiere & Platform: Sept 30, 2025, on Hulu (also Hulu on Disney+).
  • Tone : Sports comedy with heart, avoiding "schizophrenic" vibes through Manning oversight.

Aspect| Russ Holliday| Chad Powers
---|---|---
Background| Disgraced star QB at big college 3| Fake West Virginia walk- on, "lukewarm" vibes 18
Look| Athletic hotshot| Wig, prosthetics, "funny face" disguise 3
Personality| Cocky, self-destructive| Affable dimwit, blurts wild backstory 6
Goal| Redemption via reinvention 10| Lead floundering team to glory 3

TL;DR: Chad Powers isn't real—he's Glen Powell's Hulu breakout as a disguised QB flop turned folk hero, born from Eli Manning's epic prank.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.