Chad Powers: QB Hero or Hoax?

Following the footsteps of “Ted Lasso,” a new sports comedy has entered the entertainment world. “Chad Powers,” starring Glen Powell, is now streaming on Hulu. The show is based on Eli Manning’s viral “Chad Powers” sketch from ESPN. The new series turns that brief comedic moment into a full-blown football saga about deception, second chances and identity.

Who Is Chad Powers?

Chad Powers is actually Russ Holliday, a washed-up college football player who, after a self-destructing game where he fumbles a critical ball just before the end zone, sparks chaos that cascades into a scandal, a sideline altercation and the ruination of his reputation. Eight years later, refusing to sit quietly, Russ steals prosthetic facial parts from his father, a makeup artist, and transforms himself into Chad Powers a young and naïve player hoping to walk onto the roster of South Georgia’s struggling Catfish football team.

The show, created by Glen Powell and Michael Waldron, blends underdog sports energy with the awkward humor of a man trying way too hard to fit in. Some of the jokes will have you laughing at the screen for thirty minutes while others will leave you wondering if you heard that correctly. Powell mentioned on a podcast episode with Jake Shane that their purposeful use of satire was meant to make fun of the seriousness of sports.

Dangerous Game

Chad attempts to hide his real identity while earning the trust of coaches, teammates and especially Ricky Hudson, the assistant coach and daughter of the head coach. Meanwhile, sideline drama simmers with rival quarterbacks, suspicious teammates, coaching pressure and the looming threat that Chad’s secret could implode at any moment.

One of the show’s charms is what happens off the field. You’ll get to see locker room banter, team dinners, sneaky glances, whispers in hallways — the kind of backstage energy that fuels tension and gives the “sports comedy” more emotional texture than stereotypes allow. They take you behind the scenes of what it’s like to be on the field.

Touchdown of a Show

At first glance, Chad Powers feels like another sports comedy built on ridiculous disguises and locker room jokes. But, beneath the surface, it’s a clever satire on American football culture and on how image, ego and performance shape success.

Powell’s performance elevates the series, walking the line between humor and heart. Viewers can’t help but root for him, even as his lies start piling up. The chemistry between Powell and co-star Perry Mattfeld adds genuine warmth, balancing the show’s goofy premise with emotional grounding.

What’s Next? 

The first season is set to end on Oct. 21. With season one leaving fans on a cliffhanger, Hulu hasn’t confirmed a second season yet, but there have been some rumors that they will come back for a second run. Powell has hinted that future episodes could explore redemption and the chaos that comes when “fake it till you make it” goes too far.

Let us know if you liked this comedy by tagging us on Instagram @VALLEYmag!

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