Glen Powell leads a team of comedy experts in Hulu’s new football series Chad Powers, which starts streaming on September 30, 2025. The show turns a popular ESPN sketch into a full story about second chances. Powell plays a disgraced quarterback who hides his identity with a funny disguise to get back into the game. Here is a look at the actors and the roles they play in this sports comedy.
The Story Behind Chad Powers
Chad Powers is a new comedy series coming to Hulu. It is based on a funny sketch from Eli Manning’s ESPN show, Eli’s Places, where the former quarterback dressed up in a disguise and tried out for a college football team. The new series expands that idea into a story about redemption. Glen Powell, who also helped create the show with Michael Waldron, stars as Russ Holliday, a once-promising college football player whose career ends after a big mistake during an important game. Eight years later, he creates a new identity—Chad Powers—to try out for a struggling team called the South Georgia University Catfish. The series follows his attempt to fix his career while keeping his true identity a secret.
The show will have six episodes. The first two episodes will be available on Hulu on September 30, 2025, with new episodes coming out each week after that. The series is also expected to be available on Disney+ in some regions. The show is directed by Tony Yacenda, who is known for American Vandal.
Glen Powell as Russ Holliday / Chad Powers
Glen Powell takes on the main role of Russ Holliday, a quarterback who loses everything after a famous error in a championship game. To get a second chance, he disguises himself as Chad Powers, a kind but socially awkward player from the South. Powell has to play two very different characters: the ashamed and arrogant Russ and the overly nice and funny Chad. The transformation involves a wig and facial prosthetics that create many comedic situations, like when Chad has to avoid water to keep his disguise from washing off.
Glen Powell calls Powers “the hardest character” he’s ever played, noting that Russ is “an asshole … the worst dude on the planet” until he “puts on the face of a good teammate and accidentally becomes a good teammate” .
Powell is known for his roles in major films like Top Gun: Maverick, Twisters, and Hit Man. This series marks a return to television for him after his role in the series Scream Queens.
Steve Zahn as Coach Jake Hudson
Steve Zahn plays Jake Hudson, the sometimes-stressed but dedicated coach of the South Georgia Catfish. Coach Hudson is a key mentor figure for the team, offering both funny advice and serious support. The character is described as trying to save his marriage while also dealing with the pressures of coaching a struggling football team. Zahn brings a lot of experience in both comedy and drama to the role.
Steve Zahn is widely recognized for his work in shows like The White Lotus and Treme, as well as movies like Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Perry Mattfeld as Ricky
Perry Mattfeld plays Ricky, the daughter of Coach Jake Hudson. Her character is trying to build her own career in football while facing accusations of being a “nepo baby” because of her father’s job. She connects with Russ/Chad on a personal level and often challenges him to think differently about his life and choices.
To prepare for the role, Mattfeld worked on her football skills. She mentioned wanting to make sure she could throw a spiral before filming started, getting help from her husband, former USC quarterback Mark Sanchez . Mattfeld is best known for her lead role in the series In the Dark.
Toby Huss as Mike Holliday
Toby Huss plays Mike Holliday, Russ’s father. His character adds to the family dynamics of the story, showing a mix of tough love and vulnerability. Mike Holliday is also a prosthetics designer in the show, which is where Russ gets the materials for his Chad Powers disguise.
Toby Huss described his character’s influence, saying Russ is trying to “put his light back together,” which is a “relatable story no matter what you’re doing” .
Huss has appeared in a wide range of television shows, including Halt and Catch Fire and The Goldbergs.
The Supporting Team and Players
The world of the South Georgia Catfish is filled with a strong supporting cast that rounds out the team.
- Frankie A. Rodriguez as Danny: Rodriguez plays Danny, the team’s mascot, who is a theater kid with makeup skills. Danny becomes an unlikely ally for Russ, helping him maintain his disguise. The character provides both comedy and heart, often telling Russ the honest truth about his risky plan .
- Clayne Crawford as Coach Dobbs: Crawford plays another coach on the staff, adding to the dynamic of the coaching team.
- Wynn Everett as Tricia Yeager: Everett plays Tricia, a key character at the university.
- Colton Ryan as Gerry Dougan: Ryan plays Gerry, the team’s backup quarterback, who is portrayed as perpetually optimistic and Bible-thumping, providing many funny moments .
- Quentin Plair as Coach Byrd: Plair plays another coach working with the team.
Other cast members include Keese Wilson as Rod Mason, Xavier Mills as Nishan Leonard, and Kevin Trainor as a Press Conference Moderator.
The Real Football Influence
The series has a strong connection to real football. Peyton and Eli Manning are executive producers on the project through their company, Omaha Productions. Their involvement helped ensure the football scenes felt authentic. Peyton Manning even gave Glen Powell personal coaching on how to properly take a snap from a center, correcting how Powell held his hands .
The show also uses real college teams as opponents for the fictional Catfish, including the University of Georgia Bulldogs and the University of Mississippi Rebels, adding to its authentic feel .
Also Read: The Real Story Behind Chad Powers: How an Eli Manning Prank Became a New TV Show
