If you’re a sports fan, you’ve likely heard the name Chad Powers. If you haven’t, you will soon. Omaha Productions and co-founders Peyton Manning and Jamie Horowitz are bringing Eli Manning’s lovable alter ego, Chad Powers, to Hulu in Omaha’s first scripted program.
Chad Powers is a fictional character first portrayed by former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning on an episode of Omaha Productions’ Eli’s Places. Originally just a bit to talk about the power of the walk-on, Manning’s performance went viral, turning Chad Powers into an overnight sensation.
Much to Eli Manning’s surprise, the Powers persona only got more popular over time. Omaha Productions President Jamie Horowitz and Omaha’s head of scripted team, Ben Brown, soon recognized the potential of Powers as a pop culture icon and began working with top Hollywood talent to bring him to life in a new scripted series.
“The love for Chad Powers has surprised me in spectacular ways,” Eli Manning shared. “I played 16 years in the NFL, but now when I’m in a restaurant or walking through an airport, it’s not uncommon for fans to scream, ‘Hey Chad.’”
The show, titled Chad Powers, will star Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick, Anyone But You) in the lead role as Russ Holliday (aka Chad Powers). Powell will serve as a co-writer with Michael Waldron, a heavy-hitting screenwriter known for penning Marvel hits Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. Eli Manning, his big brother Peyton Manning, and Jamie Horowitz will also produce, ensuring a level of authenticity seldom seen in the sports comedy genre.
Chad Powers is set to premiere on Hulu in 2025 and promises to bring humor and plenty of heart to streaming audiences around the globe.
Who Is Chad Powers?
Originating in an episode of Omaha Productions’ Eli’s Places, Eli Manning got decked out in disguise to try out for a position at Penn State during the team’s walk-on tryouts. After a Hollywood makeup team worked their magic, Chad Powers was born.
Eli Manning, with his on-the-spot wit, made the character an instant hit. Fans latched on to Powers’ “Think fast, run fast” philosophy, turning it into a viral sensation that even caught Manning by surprise.
But not Powell and Waldron. They said, “We’re both die-hard college football fans. When we saw Eli as Chad Powers, we knew that was the way into a big, fun story about this world. We’re excited to be part of this team and can’t wait to get Chad in the game.”
Fast forward, and Chad Powers isn’t just a one-off joke, but the star of his own sports comedy on Hulu, thanks to Peyton Manning and Jamie Horowitz’s Omaha Productions.
Creating a Cultural Phenomenon
Omaha Productions, known for blending sports insight with top-notch entertainment, is all set to make Chad Powers the next hot thing. But transforming Chad Powers from a 15-minute bit to a cultural icon isn’t easy.
Luckily, Omaha Productions has a combination of sports media and football expertise to get the job done.
Peyton Manning provides the football proficiency and Jamie Horowitz, co-founder and president of Omaha Productions, drives the media strategy. Horowitz is considered the father of the modern sports talk show. He’s behind hits like SportsNation, First Take, Undisputed, The Herd With Colin Cowherd, Numbers Never Lie, and many more shows that have become staples on ESPN and Fox Sports.
A longtime sports media executive, Horowitz helped guide the rise of top sports media personalities like Stephen A. Smith, Shannon Sharpe, and Colin Cowherd. He has an uncanny ability to recognize talent and help it flourish.
Omaha Productions Changing Sports Entertainment
As Omaha Productions’ first scripted series, Chad Powers represents a significant step for the company. But it’s only the latest in a series of giant steps — and giant successes.
Given the breakaway success of Omaha Productions’ live shows, unscripted series, and podcasts, it’s hard to believe that the company is barely 3 years old. In a short period, Horowitz and Peyton Manning have created a slew of award-winning programs, including ManningCast With Peyton & Eli, Quarterback, and the Places series (where Chad Powers originated).
ManningCast was Omaha’s first massive hit. It features Peyton and Eli Manning commenting on Monday Night Football from their basements. They call plays, invite celebrity guests to join them, and do plenty of goofing off.
This completely unfiltered commentary by two of the world’s best QBs has been a massive success, averaging close to 2 million viewers per broadcast and garnering two Sports Emmys.
Quarterback is a Netflix docuseries following three of the NFL’s starting quarterbacks (Patrick Mahomes, Marcus Mariota, and Kirk Cousins) throughout the 2022-23 season. It racked up 21.4 million view hours in its first week, becoming the most-streamed show on the platform.
Now, Jamie Horowitz and Peyton Manning are looking to Chad Powers to further grow their business.
Chad Powers isn’t the only egg in Omaha Productions’ basket, either. In 2024, Omaha is co-producing Receiver with NFL Films to air on Netflix this summer. That show will feature George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Justin Jefferson, Davante Adams, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
Then it will debut a basketball version of that show featuring LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Edwards, and Domantas Sabonis.
Peyton Manning changed the game with his “Omaha” audible on the gridiron, and Horowitz and Manning have teamed up to reimagine sports media. Let’s see if Chad Powers can be as popular as Omaha itself.
Behind the Scenes: The Making of Chad Powers
One of the reasons Chad Powers resonates so much with audiences is the authenticity and attention to detail in its creation. Eli Manning, with his deep knowledge of football culture, brings a realistic yet humorous lens to the portrayal of Powers. Manning’s history in the NFL gives him the unique ability to inject elements of his playing career into the character, creating a sense of familiarity for football fans. With Omaha Productions, known for blending sports with entertainment, ensuring that every aspect of the Chad Powers series captures the nuances of the sport while still appealing to a broad audience is paramount. This marriage of comedy and authenticity is one of the show’s biggest strengths.
Additionally, Glen Powell, who takes on the titular role of Chad Powers, has shown versatility in his acting career, making him the perfect fit to bring this quirky, larger-than-life character to the small screen. Powell’s collaboration with Michael Waldron, who has a history of working on Marvel projects, suggests that Chad Powers will have high production values, sharp writing, and larger-than-life moments to captivate audiences.
The Intersection of Sports and Pop Culture
Chad Powers isn’t just a sports comedy—it’s part of a broader trend of athletes transitioning into media and entertainment. With Eli Manning’s leap into the world of fictional content and Peyton Manning’s growing influence in production, Chad Powers represents the next evolution of athlete-led media projects. Fans have already witnessed the success of shows like Quarterback and ManningCast, which blend personal storytelling with insightful sports analysis. Chad Powers will likely bring that same level of audience engagement, but this time, through scripted, narrative storytelling.
What also makes this show special is how it blurs the lines between real-life athletes and fictionalized representations. For years, sports stars have ventured into acting and entertainment, but rarely have we seen it happen with a character that feels as real and relatable as Chad Powers. It’s this level of connection that will keep viewers, particularly sports fans, invested in the character’s journey.
The Impact of Chad Powers on Omaha Productions
With the success of unscripted shows under its belt, Chad Powers marks a new frontier for Omaha Productions. The production house is quickly becoming synonymous with high-quality sports media content that appeals to a wide audience. By transitioning into scripted shows, Omaha is positioning itself to be a major player in the world of entertainment beyond just sports commentary.
Omaha Productions has proven that it can take unique concepts and make them successful, and Chad Powers could very well be their breakout scripted hit. If it achieves the same kind of viewership and engagement as ManningCast or Quarterback, we could see more fictionalized sports comedies emerging from the company in the future.
The Cultural Impact of Chad Powers
As the character of Chad Powers grows in popularity, it’s worth reflecting on how fictional characters born out of real-life sports moments can have a lasting impact. Much like Ron Burgundy or Ricky Bobby became iconic comedic characters, Chad Powers has the potential to leave a lasting mark on pop culture. Through his over-the-top enthusiasm, distinct personality, and “think fast, run fast” mantra, Chad Powers encapsulates a particular aspect of sports culture that is both endearing and entertaining.
This cultural relevance extends beyond sports fandom and into the broader world of entertainment. With the buzz surrounding Chad Powers already building, it’s likely that the show will draw in audiences who might not be die-hard football fans but are captivated by the comedic brilliance of the character and the high-stakes, high-energy world he inhabits.
Anticipating the Future: Can Chad Powers Expand Beyond Streaming?
While Chad Powers is set to debut on Hulu, it wouldn’t be surprising if the character makes his way into other forms of media. Merchandising opportunities, guest appearances, and perhaps even a feature-length film could be in the cards for the character. Given Omaha Productions’ knack for tapping into what audiences want, it’s not a stretch to imagine Chad Powers evolving beyond his initial role on the small screen to become a broader entertainment brand.
Whether it’s through social media, live-action shorts, or even sports talk shows, the Chad Powers character has the potential to become a touchstone in sports media, much like Peyton Manning’s famed “Omaha” call became a part of football lore.
By extending the Chad Powers universe across multiple platforms, Omaha Productions has a unique opportunity to create a long-lasting character that resonates with both sports fans and the general public.
In conclusion, the upcoming Chad Powers show is shaping up to be more than just a simple sports comedy. With its blend of humor, football culture, and engaging storytelling, it could very well set a new standard for scripted sports content. Audiences should brace themselves for the next big thing in sports entertainment, and rest assured, Chad Powers will be front and center in that journey.
