Chad Powers: Glen Powell Transforms Into a Mullet-Wearing Underdog in Hulu’s Latest Sports Comedy

Hulu’s new sports comedy series Chad Powers premiered on September 30, 2025, bringing audiences a uniquely absurd take on the redemption story. Created by Glen Powell and Michael Waldron, the show stars Powell as Russ Holliday, a former narcissistic college football quarterback who disgraces himself in a championship game. When his reputation is destroyed beyond repair, Holliday hatches an outlandish plan: he’ll undergo a physical transformation using prosthetics and a wig to disguise himself and walk onto a struggling football program under the name Chad Powers.

From Viral Sketch to Full Series

The show’s origins trace back to an Omaha Productions skit created by retired NFL quarterback Eli Manning for his ESPN+ series Eli’s Places. In 2022, Manning successfully fooled Penn State’s assistant head coach during open tryouts by wearing prosthetics and a shaggy wig, posing as an undiscovered talent named Chad Powers Time. What began as a lighthearted prank proved to have deeper storytelling potential, catching the attention of Powell and Waldron.

The series transforms Manning’s brief stunt into an examination of failure, accountability, and what drives someone to literally become another person—exploring the psychology of reinvention when the world won’t let you forget who you once were.

The Cast and Production

The ensemble includes Steve Zahn, Toby Huss, Perry Mattfeld, Clayne Crawford, Wynn Everett, Frankie A. Rodriguez, Colton Ryan, Keese Wilson, Xavier Mills, and Quentin Plair. The Manning brothers, Eli and Peyton, served as executive producers, helping secure football arenas and props while coaching Powell on authentically portraying a star quarterback.

Hulu gave the show a series order in February 2024, with filming beginning in late August of that year. The first two episodes launched simultaneously, with subsequent episodes rolling out weekly.

Reception and Performance

The show’s arrival generated immediate buzz. Following its premiere, Chad Powers ranked number one on both Disney+ and Hulu’s daily lists of most-watched titles. However, critical reception has been mixed. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 57% approval rating based on 46 reviews, with critics noting that Powell’s charms are paired with a frequently off-putting role that throws comedic curveballs which often backfire but don’t necessarily strike out.

Stuart Heritage of The Guardian awarded the season four out of five stars, praising it as “a funny, touching, deliberately uncomfortable character piece with one of the most magnetic central performances in recent memory”. Meanwhile, Variety‘s Alison Herman felt the season was rushed, lacking time to fully develop character dynamics, particularly between Russ and his father, and noted the show shares similarities with Ted Lasso but lacks its emotional depth.

Why Powell Took the Role

For an actor riding high on major film successes like Top Gun: Maverick, Twisters, and Anyone But You, taking on a TV comedy might seem unexpected. But Powell was drawn to the project’s themes, stating: “This show is really about hope, second chances, and redemption, which is something I think we all need right now” Time. The role allows him to showcase his comedic range while exploring the psychological depths of a man desperate enough to erase his identity for another shot at his dreams.

Chad Powers offers a blend of sports comedy, character study, and underdog narrative—all wrapped in the absurdity of a mustached, mulleted alter ego. Whether it earns a second season remains to be seen, though Powell is already dreaming of potential cameos. For now, audiences can watch all six episodes of this unconventional redemption tale on Hulu.

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