Chad Powers cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the first chapter of the Glen Powell sports comedy?

Chad Powers isn't just a name. It's the disguise, the gamble, and the heart of Hulu's newest sports comedy. Built from a joke that Eli Manning once played for ESPN, the series has surprisingly grown into one of the sharpest and funniest TV debuts of the year.

The first season introduces us to an oddball set of characters who make this story about reinvention impossible to ignore. So who exactly brings these people to life? Let's break down the cast and characters that make Chad Powers a touchdown in television comedy.

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Chad Powers cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the first chapter of the Glen Powell sports comedy?

Glen Powell as Russ Holliday / Chad Powers:

Chad Powers is played by Glen Powell who is also Russ Holliday. Confused? Well, it is exactly this absurdity that takes the win for this new Hulu comedy series. Now, Russ Holliday, a guy who was once a celebrated and well loved quarterback has his life turn upside down due to a disastrous play in a championship game.

Ever since the game, Russ Holliday has been utterly demeaned and was written off by the football world. It is here that Russ finds himself feeling all washed up, bitter, and in a desperate need of a second chance.

That's when he cooks up a crazy idea: With the help of his dad's makeup kit, he revamps himself as "Chad Powers," a fictional quarterback with a ridiculously fake accent, fake teeth, and an even faker and funnier backstory.

Powell gives this double performance with both swagger and vulnerability, letting the audience laugh at Russ's ludicrous and nonsensical improvisations while also still caring deeply about his redemption arc. His Chad persona may be an exaggeration, but one that strangely wins hearts, and Powell makes sure you can't take your eyes off him.

You might recognize Glen Powell from the modern adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing titled Anyone But You & Twisters.

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Steve Zahn as Coach Jake Hudson:

Steve Zahn, known for his ability to play both comic roles, takes on Jake Hudson, the drained out yet passionate head coach of the striving South Georgia Catfish. Hudson is not just another football coach yelling about gameplay methods from the sidelines. He's a man who is clearly under pressure, his career hanging by a thread.

Zahn plays him with humor and with a bit of kindness which in turn balances the sarcastic one-liners with guidance. His character becomes a mirror for Russ/Chad, forcing him to consider the responsibility of leadership and the weight of second chances. In a show with disguises, deception and lies, Hudson stands as the voice of grounded truth, and Zahn nails every beat.

You might recognize Steve Zahn from Season 1 of The White Lotus & That Thing You Do!

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Wynn Everett as Tricia:

As Tricia, the sharp-tongued booster president, Wynn Everett adds a layer of wit and cunning to Chad Powers. Tricia controls the money that keeps the Catfish alive, and she makes sure Coach Hudson never forgets it. While her character could have easily been shown as a one-dimensional hurdle, Everett makes use of the character with a flair and sly intelligence.

She delivers lines that bite but these are the same lines that also bring out the depth of the character, reminding us that even the 'so-called villains' in this comedy have their reasons.

You might recognize Wynn Everett from The Maiden Heist & Backwards.

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Perry Mattfeld as Ricky Hudson:

Ricky Hudson, played by Perry Mattfeld, is Jake's daughter and an assistant coach who brings balance to the testosterone filled world of college football. Ricky isn't just there as a love interest or background character. She's smart, has somewhat of a personality, is driven, and is not afraid to challenge Chad or her father when she thinks they're wrong.

Through her interactions with Russ, Ricky becomes an important influence, forcing him to face parts of himself he'd rather keep buried. Mattfeld plays Ricky with warmth which makes her into one of the emotional characters of the show.

You might recognize Perry Mattfeld from Wizards of Waverly Place & Dark.

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Toby Huss as Mike Holliday:

Every underdog story needs a push from home, and Toby Huss provides it as Mike Holliday, Russ's father. Mike is a prosthetics and makeup artist, the very person who unknowingly hands Russ the tools he uses to transform into Chad. But beyond the physical disguise, Mike also represents the complicated father-son bond at the core of Russ's story.

Huss plays him with tough love. Sometimes brutally honest, sometimes unexpectedly tender. His character reminds us that while second chances are rare, they often start with someone refusing to give up on you. Huss grounds the series in family stakes, showing that Russ's journey is about more than just football.

You might recognize Toby Huss from the contemporary/classic re-telling of American poet Emily Dickinson's life from Apple TV's Dickinson & The Four Seasons.

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Supporting Cast for Chad Powers:

Quentin Plair as Coach Byrd, Clayne Crawford as Coach Dobbs, Xavier Mills as Nishan Leonard, and Colton Ryan as Gerry Dougan. Each adds depth to the Catfish team dynamic, rounding out the world around Russ/Chad.

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More about Hulu’s sports comedy experiment that works better than it should

When you hear "Chad Powers," it might sound like a throwaway gag. But the Hulu series takes Eli Manning's sketch character and, with the combined creativity of Glen Powell and Michael Waldron, spins it into a show that's part comedy of errors, part heartfelt redemption story.

With six episodes packed full of disguises, lies, locker-room chaos, and unexpected bonds, the series finds humor in absurdity while still speaking honestly about identity and second chances.

Add in a score by Natalie Holt and cameos from the football world, and Chad Powers becomes more than a sitcom. It's a clever meditation on how we rewrite our own stories.

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Chad Powers might have started as a joke, but Hulu turned it into a series with heart, wit, and a cast that feels like a winning team. From Glen Powell's layered lead performance to the strong ensemble supporting him, every character adds a unique play to the field.

This first season isn't just a sports comedy but it's a show about masks, reinvention, and what it takes to rise after a fall. And that's what makes Chad Powers worth rooting for.

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