Manning originated the role in his ESPN+ series ‘Eli’s Places’ in 2022
Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty (2)
NEED TO KNOW
- Eli Manning revealed that he initially thought he would star in Chad Powers after his 2022 viral sketch inspired the Hulu series
- Glen Powell ultimately took on the title role, while Manning and his brother Peyton serve as producers through their company Omaha Productions
- Manning shared the story during a PaleyLive panel celebrating the show’s second season in New York City on Sept. 3
Eli Manning recently revealed that he once thought he would be offered Glen Powell’s starring role in Hulu’s hit comedy series Chad Powers.
Manning — who starred in the 2022 sketch that the series is based on for his ESPN+ series Eli’s Places — moderated a live panel on the show’s upcoming second season during PaleyLive at the Paley Museum in New York City on Sept. 3.
During the discussion, which featured several of the show’s stars, including Powell, Steve Zahn and Frankie A. Rodriguez, along with showrunner Michael Waldron, Manning, 45, shared that he initially assumed he would get to reprise the role for the full-length series.
Credit: DJ Delgado/Disney
“Michael and Glen, I remember four or five years ago — I guess five years ago now when y’all, y’all called me up and and told me y’all wanted to take Chad Powers to the big screen and make it a show. And I was all about it and I was very excited,” he began.
“I thought I was going Hollywood,” Manning added, which elicited laughter from the audience.
“Move the family out to L.A.. I was becoming a big actor and famous, and be on the cover PEOPLE Magazine … I was ready to go,” he continued.
Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty
He then jokingly asked Powell, 37, if the actor ever feels “guilty” for “crushing” his Hollywood dreams.
“Eli, this entire tour is an apology tour,” Powell responded, which elicited more laughter from the crowd. “For everything I’ve done to you with this show. And I’m so sorry.”
While the former quarterback may not have landed the starring role, he did note that he made a cameo in season 1 of the series, in which he delivered a single line.
“I was not asked back for season 2,” he jokingly added.
While Manning may not star in the series, he and his brother, Peyton Manning, serve as producers through Peyton’s production company, Omaha Productions.
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The original 2022 viral sketch which inspired the show featured the former New York Giants player — who retired from the NFL in 2020 — going undercover as a man named Chad Powers at a real-life Penn State walk-on tryout wearing prosthetics, a wig and a fake mustache.
The Hulu series takes the concept to new heights, with Powell playing Russ Holliday, a disgraced former college quarterback who disguises himself as Chad Powers to try to revive his football career.
Powell received a 2026 Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Series — Musical or Comedy for his role in the series, and the show was nominated for Outstanding New TV Series at the 2026 GLAAD Media Awards.
Season 2 of Chad Powers premiered on Sept. 3 and is currently streaming on Hulu on Disney+.
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