If you were scrolling through social media back in September 2022, you probably saw a clip of a guy who looked like a cross between a 1970s roadie and a middle-aged substitute teacher trying to play college football. He had this scraggly blonde wig, a prosthetic nose that didn't quite look right, and a mustache that screamed "I have a windowless van."
That was the birth of Chad Powers Penn State legend.
Most people know it was Eli Manning under all that rubber and hair. But the actual story of how a two-time Super Bowl MVP ended up sweating through agility drills with 19-year-old kids in State College is weirder—and much more calculated—than a simple prank. It wasn't just a funny video; it was a masterclass in undercover storytelling that eventually convinced Hollywood to turn a 15-minute sketch into a full-blown TV empire.
The Day Eli Manning Became a Nittany Lion (Sorta)
It started with Eli’s Places, a show on ESPN+ where Eli explores the world of college football. For Season 2, he wanted to see if he could actually hack it at a real walk-on tryout. He chose Penn State because Coach James Franklin is apparently a good sport—and because the Mannings have deep ties to the program (former PSU QB Sean Clifford used to coach at the Manning Passing Academy).
Eli didn’t just put on a hat. He went through a full Hollywood-style transformation. He wanted to look younger, but the makeup artists ended up making him look like a 41-year-old trying way too hard to be 22.
When he rolled up to Lasch Football Building, he introduced himself as Chad Powers, a homeschooled kid who had been coached by his mom in the backyard. His mantra? "Think fast, run fast."
What actually happened during the tryout
Honestly, the physical stuff was a disaster for him.
- The 40-Yard Dash: Eli (as Chad) clocked a 5.49. For context, that is incredibly slow for a college quarterback. Even at 41, he was struggling.
- The Agility Drills: He looked stiff. The coaches—most of whom were in on the joke, though the players weren't—were roasting his "terrible testing numbers."
- The Arm: This is where the disguise started to fail. You can fake a bad 40-time, but you can't fake a Hall of Fame arm. As soon as Chad started "slinging it," the actual Penn State players started looking at each other like, Who is this old guy with the cannon?
James Franklin eventually gathered the group and told "Chad" he was being cut because of his testing. That’s when Eli ripped off the wig and the mustache. The reaction from the walk-on hopefuls was pure gold—half of them were starstruck, and the other half were just relieved they weren't actually competing for a roster spot against a Manning.
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Why Chad Powers Is More Than Just a Meme
We see athletes do "undercover" bits all the time. Kyrie Irving did Uncle Drew. Shaq has done a dozen versions of this. But Chad Powers Penn State hit differently.
It hit because of the timing. 2022 was the peak of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) chaos, and Penn State actually leaned into the joke to help their real players. The school started selling "Think Fast, Run Fast" shirts and held competitions to see if fans were faster than Chad. All the proceeds went to the "run-ons" (Penn State’s term for walk-ons).
It turned a goofy prank into a legitimate fundraiser for the kids who actually have to pay their own way to play.
The Glen Powell Factor: From Skit to Hulu Series
Fast forward to late 2025 and early 2026. The "Chad Powers" name is no longer just associated with Eli Manning. Now, it’s a Hulu series starring Glen Powell.
This is where the story gets its second life. Powell—who is basically the biggest movie star on the planet right now after Top Gun: Maverick and Twisters—saw the Manning clip and thought there was a real "Ted Lasso" style heart buried in the comedy.
The fictionalized backstory
In the show, the character isn't just a retired pro having a laugh. He’s Russ Holliday, a disgraced star QB whose career ended after he basically blew it in a national championship and acted like a total jerk on TV. To get back into the game, he disguises himself as Chad Powers and tries to walk on at a struggling school called South Georgia.
It’s been described as Mrs. Doubtfire meets Varsity Blues.
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Actually, the show just got renewed for Season 2 in December 2025, and filming started just a few days ago in January 2026. Powell is deep in "Chad" mode again, wearing even more elaborate prosthetics than Eli did.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Origins
There’s a common misconception that the Penn State coaches were totally fooled.
Let's be real: James Franklin knew. A few key staff members knew. You can't just bring a camera crew and a guy in a rubber mask onto a high-security D1 practice field without a background check.
But the players? They were genuinely confused. They thought some eccentric 40-year-old had managed to slip through the cracks of the registrar’s office. That’s where the "human" element of Chad Powers comes from—the awkward interactions between a legend trying to blend in and kids who are just trying to keep their dreams alive.
The Legacy of "Think Fast, Run Fast"
So, why does a three-year-old prank still matter in 2026?
Basically, it's because Chad Powers represents the "everyman" dream in sports. We all like to think that if we just put on a wig and showed up at a tryout, our "hidden talent" would finally be seen. Eli proved that even if you're slow and your nose looks like it's made of Silly Putty, if you can throw a 15-yard out route with a spiral, people will notice.
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Actionable Takeaways if You're a Fan:
- Watch the Original: If you haven't seen the 15-minute Eli's Places segment on ESPN+, go find it. It's much better than the 60-second TikTok clips.
- Binge the Hulu Series: If you like sports comedies that actually have heart (and real football choreography), the first season is already streaming.
- Support the Walk-ons: Look into your own favorite college team’s walk-on program. Most of these guys are paying full tuition and working 40 hours a week on the field just for the chance to wear the jersey.
Chad Powers might be a fake name, but the hustle he represents—and the way Penn State used it to fund real students—is as real as it gets in college football.
Next Steps: You can check out the official Penn State NIL store to see if they still have the "legacy" Chad Powers gear, or head over to Hulu to see Glen Powell's take on the character. Just remember: if you're going to try out for a D1 team, maybe try to run faster than a 5.49.