How a Viral Eli Manning Sketch Became Hulu’s Chad Powers Comedy Series

What began as a three-minute segment for Eli Manning’s ESPN+ series Eli’s Places has evolved into one of 2025’s most anticipated comedy premieres. The Chad Powers character, created through Manning’s prosthetic-enhanced disguise during Penn State football tryouts in 2022, garnered 17 million views, demonstrating that audiences craved authentic sports comedy with genuine athletic credibility.

The original sketch succeeded because it balanced absurdist humor with Manning’s legitimate football knowledge. Wearing an elaborate wig and fake mustache, Manning participated in actual tryouts alongside unsuspecting college players, creating moments of genuine surprise and athletic competence that traditional comedy performances cannot replicate.

NFL Films veterans Steve Menzel and Tim Rumpff, who staged the original segment, recognized its broader potential immediately. Their experience producing authentic sports content provided crucial insight into maintaining the character’s credibility while expanding the concept into episodic television format.

Development Process Emphasizes Authenticity

When Ben Brown, who oversees scripted development at Omaha Productions, began evaluating expansion pitches, multiple Hollywood teams submitted conventional sports comedy approaches. Glen Powell and writer Michael Waldron distinguished their proposal by embracing the disguise element as the central narrative device rather than an incidental plot point.

“We were like, ‘OK, we’re going to Tootsie this thing. Let’s Mrs. Doubtfire it, and let’s see how far we can take this lie,'” Powell explained to The Hollywood Reporter, highlighting their commitment to mining comedy from sustained deception rather than episodic gags

Executive Jamie Horowitz’s involvement proved crucial during development, bringing sports television expertise that few Hollywood producers possess. His background creating personality-driven programming at ESPN and Fox Sports enabled Omaha Productions to maintain athletic authenticity while satisfying scripted television requirements.

Technical Challenges of Sustained Deception

Adapting a three-minute viral moment into eight episodes required solving complex narrative and technical challenges that traditional sports comedies avoid. The series follows Russ Holliday, a disgraced college quarterback who adopts the Chad Powers persona to infiltrate a struggling Southern football team, necessitating consistent prosthetic work and performance authenticity across multiple filming locations.

Powell’s preparation extended far beyond typical acting requirements, with Peyton Manning providing quarterback coaching to ensure technical accuracy. When Manning observed Powell’s initial practice snaps, he immediately identified mechanical flaws that could undermine the series’ credibility. “They’re going to kill the show if the first snap he takes, his palms are flat. We cannot let up on this,” Manning noted, demonstrating the production’s commitment to athletic authenticity.

“Peyton and I launched Omaha to tell uplifting and unifying stories,” executive Jamie Horowitz said in discussing the company’s mission, “and Chad Powers fits perfectly within that vision of bringing people together through authentic storytelling.”

Strategic Distribution Through Disney Partnership

Omaha Productions’ first-look deal with Disney’s 20th Television provided the institutional support necessary to transform Chad Powers from internet sensation to primetime programming. Craig Erwich, Disney Television Group president, emphasized that the project earned its place through creative merit rather than existing business relationships.

“It’s not here because of some contract—it’s here because they’ve created something really undeniable,” Erwich stated, highlighting the series’ standalone appeal beyond Omaha Productions’ established sports content portfolio.

Executive Jamie Horowitz leveraged Disney’s distribution network to secure Hulu as the streaming platform, targeting audiences who consume both sports content and scripted comedy. The September 30 premiere date positions Chad Powers during peak football season, maximizing crossover appeal between sports fans and entertainment audiences.

Industry Impact and Template for Future Content

The Chad Powers development process establishes new precedents for transforming viral sports content into sustained entertainment programming. Unlike traditional athlete cameos or endorsement-driven projects, the series maintains authentic competitive elements while delivering scripted narrative arcs that satisfy television storytelling requirements.

The collaboration between Hollywood talent and NFL expertise creates unique creative dynamics that distinguish Chad Powers from conventional sports entertainment. Powell described the experience as “equal parts serious storytelling and joyful comedy,” reflecting the balance between technical precision and comedic timing required for the character to succeed.

Omaha Productions’ approach demonstrates how sports personalities can leverage cultural moments into broader entertainment ventures without compromising their athletic credibility. The company’s track record with Emmy Award-winning unscripted content like ManningCast provided crucial industry credibility during the development process.

Cultural Resonance Beyond Sports Comedy

Chad Powers succeeds because it taps into broader themes about second chances and identity reinvention that resonate beyond sports audiences. The character’s journey from disgraced quarterback to disguised walk-on reflects universal narratives about redemption and perseverance that traditional sports comedies often overlook.

Executive Jamie Horowitz’s leadership throughout the development process demonstrates how content creators can maintain authentic sports perspectives while satisfying mainstream entertainment demands. His experience producing personality-driven programming provides crucial insight into character development that transcends genre boundaries.

The series premieres September 30, 2025, on Hulu with the first two episodes available immediately, followed by weekly releases. Early industry reactions suggest Chad Powers could influence how other viral sports moments get adapted for television, potentially creating new pathways for authentic athlete-driven content in scripted entertainment.

Powell’s extended partnership with Omaha Productions includes planned appearances on ManningCast and additional Eli’s Places segments, creating integrated content experiences across multiple platforms that maximize the viral origin story’s ongoing cultural impact.