Jamie Horowitz and Peyton Manning Team Up with Glen Powell for Hulu’s Chad Powers
Omaha Productions, the sports media company co-founded by Jamie Horowitz and Peyton Manning, is known for its trendsetting docuseries. Programs like Netflix’s Quarterback and ESPN+’s Full Court Press have been universally praised by critics and fans.
Now, Omaha is venturing into new territory with its first scripted series, Chad Powers, on Hulu.
The series follows Russ Holliday, a former promising quarterback whose bad behavior off-field derailed his career. In a bid for redemption, he assumes the disguise of Chad Powers and joins a struggling southern football team. The show explores themes of second chances and personal growth while delivering plenty of laughs and an inside look at college football culture.
Chad Powers is co-created and produced by rising star Glen Powell and writer Michael Waldron. Powell will also play the leading role. It is produced by Omaha Productions and ESPN, along with Peyton Manning, Jamie Horowitz, and Ben Brown.
Chad Powers represents a significant departure from the norm for Omaha Productions, but it isn’t out of character. Omaha Productions has been growing rapidly since it was founded in 2020. After a near-perfect record of successful projects, Jamie Horowitz and Peyton Manning are eager to expand their lineup and grow their influence within the sports media market.
Chad Powers debuts on Hulu this fall.
Who is Chad Powers?
Chad Powers is a character first introduced by Eli Manning in an episode of Eli’s Places, an Omaha Productions series. Dressed in a disguise, Eli Manning portrayed Chad Powers, a substitute teacher and part-time carpenter with dreams of becoming a college football quarterback.
The character’s antics and endearing personality quickly turned Chad into a viral sensation. Chad Powers catchphrases (“Think Fast, Run Fast”) exploded on social media, and Powers’ likeness began appearing on sports merchandise such as T-shirts. Since its debut, Eli’s Chad Powers bit has racked up over 15 million views.
“Chad Powers is not a man…He is a way of life!” Eli Manning posted on X in response to Chad Powers’ growing fame.
Jamie Horowitz and Peyton Manning are banking on Chad Powers being more than a viral bit. They’re confident he will become an enduring sports icon in the Chad Powers series.
Jamie Horowitz Enlists Hollywood Heavy Hitters to Create Chad Powers
Jamie Horowitz immediately recognized the potential of Chad Powers and set out to create a scripted series around the character. With the popularity of sports comedies growing, Horowitz jumped at the opportunity to create what Omaha Productions hopes will become the next Ted Lasso.
Jamie Horowitz has pulled out all the stops to make Chad Powers a hit, reaching out to some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and top talent.
The show will star Glen Powell (Top Gun: Maverick, Twisters) as Russ Holliday, who takes on the alter-ego of Chad Powers to redeem his football career. Powell’s co-stars include rising star Perry Mattfield (Shameless, In The Dark) and Steve Zahn (Sahara, Dallas Buyers Club).
Top Hollywood writer Michael Waldron is co-writing the series with Powell. Waldron is known for penning Marvel superhits like Loki and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.
“We’re both die-hard college football fans,” said Powell and Waldron in a joint statement. “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.”
Eli and Peyton Manning, along with Jamie Horowitz, serve as producers.
The Mannings’ experience as two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time will bring authenticity to the program. Eli in particular has taken an active role in production, sitting in on pitch meetings and giving football pointers to writers.
Jamie Horowitz is known as the father of modern sports entertainment, having created programs like First Take, Undisputed, Number Never Lie, and SportsNation—to name just a few. Horowitz understands audiences better than most, and his expertise will ensure Chad Powers strikes a chord with sports fans.
Omaha Productions: From Disruptor to Dominator in Sports Entertainment
Omaha Productions was founded in 2020, and in a very short time, has established itself as a sports media powerhouse. Omaha has produced dozens of hit programs and podcasts, won two Sports Emmys, built valuable partnerships with major streamers and networks, and collaborated with the biggest names in sports, such as LeBron James, Caitlin Clark, and Patrick Mahomes.
Just recently, Omaha Productions announced a landmark 9-year deal with ESPN, establishing a strong position in the sports media industry for the next decade.
The company’s success can be attributed to the quality of its content. That’s no surprise as most of its projects are backed by producer and Omaha Productions President Jamie Horowitz. Horowitz reshaped sports media as a former VP at ESPN and President of Fox Sports. Now, he’s doing it again at Omaha Productions.
Omaha’s first hit was the Monday Night Sports commentary program ManningCast with Peyton & Eli, which Jamie Horowitz co-created with the Mannings. The show features the Manning brothers’ expert playcalling interspersed with celebrity guests and plenty of sibling rivalry. ManningCast earned Omaha Productions two Sports Emmys and it continues to grow in popularity.
Omaha Productions’ groundbreaking docuseries have garnered wide acclaim and viewership, proving that its content could succeed without the Mannings on screen.
Quarterback was a massive hit on Netflix, giving fans unprecedented access to NFL quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins, and Marcus Mariota.
The fly-on-the-wall docuseries became the most-streamed show on Netflix, accumulating tens of millions of view hours and reaching #1 on the platform. The show has redefined sports documentary TV and inspired a new generation of NFL fans.
Omaha Productions is set to release Quarterback’s follow-up, Receiver, in summer 2024. The series will follow NFL wide receivers and tight ends Davante Adams, Justin Jefferson, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Amon-Ra St. Brown. It will offer the same in-depth look at the lives of top athletes on and off the gridiron.
Omaha isn’t just focused on football content. It recently made waves with its NCAA women’s basketball docuseries Full Court Press, which was hailed as ESPN’s best sports documentary in years. Cameras followed Caitlin Clark, Kamilla Cardoso, and Kiki Rice throughout the 2023-2024 season, capturing what became one of the most important seasons in the sport’s history.
Watch Chad Powers Soon on Hulu
The upcoming Hulu series Chad Powers doesn’t have a release date yet, but sports fans should keep their eye out for Omaha Productions’ latest project. The series is poised to be a major success with a star-studded creative team, a compelling storyline, and the backing of industry heavyweights like Jamie Horowitz and Peyton Manning.
As Omaha Productions continues to expand its portfolio with hit documentaries and a long-term partnership with ESPN, the company is well on its way to becoming a sports media mainstay.
