For NFL fans waiting out the off-days of week 5, this new comedy series produced by Eli and Peyton Manning is a must-watch. While the Manning brothers’ places in the hierarchy of legendary quarterbacks are often a subject of significant debate, one thing is certain: they have genuine comedic chops, and they haven’t been shy about using them post retirement.

Their latest project is Chad Powers, a Hulu original series starring Glen Powell. The TV series was created and written by Glen Powell and Michael Waldron (Loki, Rick & Morty) with Peyton Manning’s production company, Omaha Productions, involved with the project. Of course, the subject at hand is football.

Eli Manning & Peyton Manning Produce Glen Powell’s Chad Powers

Chad Powers is a TV series about a college football star named Russ Holliday, who falls from grace after a moment of hubris during a championship game, costing his team the victory and himself his reputation and livelihood. We watch the story of the arrogant ex-QB1 eight years later, when he attempts to make his football comeback.

After their quarterbacks sustain injuries, the South Georgia Catfishes host open tryouts, allowing Russ Holliday a chance to start anew on a fresh team. However, with his reputation tarnished, Holliday is forced to disguise himself in prosthetics and create a false identity, calling himself Chad Powers. What ensues is hilarious.

For football fans, TV comedy lovers, and fans of 2000s comedies like Old School and Dodgeball, this series offers the perfect blend of sports underdog story and good, old-fashioned dark humor. Most importantly, it’s a ton of fun; don’t let the divisive reviews stop you from giving it a go if you want an easy-going comedy series to embrace football season.

Chad Powers Is Based On A Beloved Eli Manning Skit

If you recognize the name and design of Chad Powers, it’s likely because you’ve seen the original skit the series is based on. The NFL doesn’t have quite as much to offer in terms of player-made content as leagues like the NBA, but this 2022 ESPN skit made waves with audiences as the 2x Super Bowl-winner went undercover for a walk-on tryout at Penn State University.

The Eli Manning sketch is quite fun, as it doesn’t take long for spectators to switch from underestimating the older-looking man to being wildly impressed by his NFL-caliber throwing arm. Russ Holliday’s path to impressing his team isn’t quite as immediate, as the high-stakes lie leaves him with a number of obstacles.

The 15-minute skit has accumulated 17 million views. Now, <em>Chad Powers</em> season 1 will consist of six episodes, two of which are already available on the streaming service.