The Chad Powers cast brings together Glen Powell and a supporting ensemble of actors playing coaches, players, family members and other people caught up in Russ Holliday’s unusual football comeback. Powell leads the series in the dual role of Russ and his invented alter ego, Chad Powers.
The Hulu comedy returns for Season 2 on September 3, 2026. The new episodes continue the story of Russ as his secret becomes harder to protect, while the South Georgia Catfish face new pressure on and off the field.
Key Points Summary
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║ – Glen Powell stars as former quarterback Russ Holliday and his disguise, Chad Powers. ║
║ – Perry Mattfeld returns as assistant coach Ricky Hudson. ║
║ – Steve Zahn plays head coach Jake Hudson. ║
║ – Frankie A. Rodriguez, Colton Ryan, Quentin Plair and Wynn Everett are also part of the returning ensemble. ║
║ – Season 2 introduces several additional guest performers. ║
║ – All six Season 2 episodes arrive on Hulu on September 3, 2026. ║
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Who Is in the Chad Powers Cast?
The series uses its football setting to build an ensemble around Powell’s central character. Each performer has a different connection to the Catfish and to Russ’s attempt to start over.
The cast includes established television and film performers alongside actors whose characters form the team’s larger supporting group.
Glen Powell as Russ Holliday and Chad Powers
Glen Powell is the central star of the series.
He plays Russ Holliday, a former college quarterback whose football career took a dramatic turn before he eventually decided to pursue another opportunity.
Russ creates a new identity called Chad Powers. He uses the disguise to enter the world of college football again without revealing who he really is.
That setup allows Powell to portray two distinct personalities within the same character. Russ understands exactly why he created Chad, while Chad must convince everyone else that he is a completely different person.
Powell’s involvement extends beyond acting. He co-created the series with Michael Waldron and also serves as an executive producer.
The Chad Powers character itself has a real-world connection to former NFL quarterback Eli Manning. Manning originally used the name and appearance for an undercover football tryout featured in Eli’s Places. That concept eventually inspired the Hulu scripted comedy.
Perry Mattfeld as Ricky Hudson
Perry Mattfeld plays Ricky Hudson, an assistant coach associated with the South Georgia Catfish.
Ricky becomes particularly important because she knows the truth about Russ’s identity.
That information changes her relationship with the main character. She is not simply watching Chad develop as a football player. She also understands the person hiding underneath the disguise.
Her knowledge becomes even more significant in Season 2 as Russ faces greater difficulty keeping his secret.
Mattfeld’s character therefore sits close to the show’s central conflict. She can potentially help Russ, but protecting his secret also places her in a difficult position.
Steve Zahn as Coach Jake Hudson
Steve Zahn portrays Jake Hudson, the head coach of the South Georgia Catfish.
Coach Hudson has to deal with the normal demands of running a college football team while also trying to understand the unusual circumstances surrounding Chad.
Chad’s abilities make him valuable to the program. At the same time, his behavior creates questions that the coaching staff cannot ignore.
Zahn’s character provides the series with a coach’s perspective on the team’s changing situation.
As Russ becomes more deeply involved with the Catfish, Jake’s role becomes increasingly connected to the question of whether Chad can be trusted.
Frankie A. Rodriguez as Danny
Frankie A. Rodriguez plays Danny Cruz.
Danny is closely connected to Russ and becomes involved in keeping the Chad Powers secret intact.
His role is important because Russ cannot manage every part of the deception alone. Maintaining a false identity requires people around him who understand what is really happening.
Danny therefore becomes one of the characters caught between Russ’s past and Chad’s new football life.
The pressure surrounding the secret increases in Season 2, giving Danny a larger role in the complications that follow.
Colton Ryan as Gerry
Colton Ryan plays Gerry, a quarterback connected to the South Georgia Catfish.
Gerry’s position creates a natural source of competition when Chad enters the picture.
The arrival of a talented quarterback can change the balance inside a football program. For Gerry, Chad’s presence is therefore more than an unusual addition to the roster.
Their relationship becomes one of the sources of tension in the series. Season 2 continues that dynamic while adding another problem: Gerry becomes suspicious of Chad.
That suspicion puts additional pressure on Russ to make sure his real identity stays hidden.
Quentin Plair as Coach Byrd
Quentin Plair appears as Coach Byrd, another member of the Catfish coaching staff.
While the story concentrates on Russ, Chad and the people closest to them, the coaching staff helps establish the wider football environment.
Coach Byrd is part of the group responsible for the team and its players. His presence also gives the series another perspective on Chad’s rapid emergence.
The character contributes to the ensemble rather than functioning as a separate storyline disconnected from the team’s central conflict.
Wynn Everett as Tricia Yeager
Wynn Everett plays Tricia Yeager, who has an important position within the Catfish organization.
Tricia is associated with the team’s booster organization, placing her outside the immediate coaching structure while still giving her an interest in the program’s performance.
Her character broadens the show’s focus beyond players and coaches.
College football programs involve many people away from the field, and Tricia represents part of that wider network surrounding the Catfish.
Toby Huss as Mike Holliday
Toby Huss plays Mike Holliday, a character connected to Russ.
Mike’s connection to Russ helps bring the protagonist’s personal history into the story.
Russ’s attempt to become Chad is not simply a football decision. It involves leaving behind an earlier version of himself and constructing an entirely different identity.
Characters connected to his past make that separation more difficult.
Huss has appeared in numerous television productions, including King of the Hill, The Righteous Gemstones and Halt and Catch Fire.
Clayne Crawford as Coach Dobbs
Clayne Crawford plays Coach Dobbs, another coach within the South Georgia football program.
Dobbs works with the quarterbacks, placing him close to the part of the team where Chad’s performance matters most.
His position gives him a reason to pay attention to the quarterbacks and their development.
Crawford is also known for his previous television work, including Lethal Weapon and Rectify.
Xavier Mills as Nishan
Xavier Mills portrays Nishan, one of the football players associated with the Catfish.
Nishan belongs to the broader group of players surrounding Chad.
Although the central story follows Russ, the team environment requires a collection of players who make the Catfish feel like a functioning football program.
Mills’ character is part of that supporting group.
Keese Wilson as Rod
Keese Wilson plays Rod Mason.
Rod is another player within the Catfish football environment.
His role contributes to the larger team dynamic surrounding Chad and Gerry.
The supporting players help show how Chad’s arrival affects more than just the coaching staff and the person competing directly with him for attention.
Season 2 Adds New Faces
The second season does not rely exclusively on the original ensemble.
Several additional performers join the series in guest roles, including Gillian Jacobs, Colin Woodell, Carey O’Donnell and Nate Varrone.
Colin Woodell plays Jay, a former Catfish player. Carey O’Donnell appears as Mr. Brent, a figure connected with the university’s cheerleading program.
These additions allow Season 2 to introduce new relationships and situations without removing the characters audiences already know.
The expanded guest cast also reflects the show’s broader story as Russ’s secret becomes increasingly difficult to contain.
Why Russ and Chad Are Both Played by Glen Powell
One of the show’s defining casting decisions is having Powell play both sides of the central identity.
Russ is the person behind the disguise. Chad is the personality Russ created to get another chance in football.
The distinction drives much of the comedy, but it also creates the show’s main source of tension.
Every new friendship, rivalry or coaching decision creates another opportunity for someone to discover the truth.
Powell has to make the two identities recognizable while keeping their connection clear to the audience.
That dual performance is a major reason the lead role requires more than simply playing a fictional quarterback.
How Eli Manning Inspired the Character
The Chad Powers name existed before the Hulu series.
Eli Manning introduced the persona during an undercover college football tryout for his ESPN series Eli’s Places.
Manning used a disguise and fictional background while attempting to see whether college players and coaches would recognize him.
The concept attracted enough attention to become the basis for a scripted comedy.
Glen Powell and Michael Waldron subsequently developed the television version, with Powell taking on the lead role.
Manning and Peyton Manning are also executive producers on the series, creating a direct connection between the original football stunt and the scripted show.
What Changes for the Cast in Season 2?
The first season established Russ’s attempt to rebuild his football career.
The second season raises the consequences of that decision.
Chad is no longer simply an unknown player trying to make an impression. His growing importance creates more opportunities for people around him to notice inconsistencies.
Ricky knows the truth. Danny helps protect Russ. Gerry becomes suspicious. Coach Hudson has to deal with Chad’s unusual behavior.
Those relationships create a more complicated situation for the returning ensemble.
Instead of asking only whether Russ can make the team, the story increasingly asks how long he can continue living as Chad.
When Does Chad Powers Season 2 Arrive?
Season 2 premieres on Hulu on September 3, 2026.
The new season contains six episodes, and Hulu is releasing the entire season at once.
That release approach allows viewers to follow the next chapter of Russ’s story without waiting for individual weekly episodes.
For people discovering the series because of Season 2, the cast provides a useful starting point. Powell’s dual role sits at the center, while the supporting characters establish the football and personal stakes around him.
Where Can You Watch Chad Powers?
U.S. viewers can stream Chad Powers on Hulu.
The series is also available through Hulu on Disney+ for eligible subscribers.
The first season introduced the South Georgia Catfish and Russ’s unusual transformation. Season 2 continues with the established cast while bringing in new guest characters.
Viewers who want to understand the relationships surrounding Chad may find it useful to start with Season 1 before moving into the new episodes.
Chad Powers Cast: The Bigger Picture
The ensemble works because each character has a reason to care about what happens to Chad.
Russ needs the disguise. Ricky knows the truth. Danny helps keep it hidden. Gerry has a reason to question Chad. Coach Hudson has responsibility for the team. Tricia represents another level of interest around the Catfish.
That combination creates the pressure behind the comedy.
Glen Powell remains the central figure, but the supporting cast gives the story its wider football world.
With Season 2 now arriving, those relationships become more important as Russ attempts to keep his two identities from colliding.
Why the Cast Matters to Season 2
The appeal of Chad Powers goes beyond the unusual appearance of its lead character.
The series depends on the people surrounding Russ and the different ways they respond to Chad.
Some characters compete with him. Others protect him. Some simply want the football team to succeed.
Season 2 brings those relationships into sharper focus.
The result is a story where the cast has an important job beyond supporting the lead. Every character can affect how long Russ’s deception survives.
The most important takeaway is that the Chad Powers cast combines Glen Powell’s central dual performance with a returning ensemble whose characters now face greater pressure as Russ’s secret becomes harder to protect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who plays Chad Powers?
A: Glen Powell plays Chad Powers, the fictional identity created by former quarterback Russ Holliday.
Q: Who plays Russ Holliday?
A: Glen Powell portrays Russ Holliday, the former quarterback hiding behind the Chad Powers identity.
Q: Who plays Ricky Hudson in Chad Powers?
A: Perry Mattfeld plays Ricky Hudson, an assistant coach connected to the South Georgia Catfish.
Q: Who plays Coach Jake Hudson?
A: Steve Zahn portrays Jake Hudson, the head coach of the South Georgia Catfish.
Q: Who plays Danny in Chad Powers?
A: Frankie A. Rodriguez plays Danny Cruz, one of Russ’s allies.
Q: Who plays Gerry in Chad Powers?
A: Colton Ryan plays Gerry, a quarterback associated with the Catfish.
Q: Who joins the cast for Season 2?
A: Season 2 adds guest performers including Gillian Jacobs, Colin Woodell, Carey O’Donnell and Nate Varrone.
Q: When is Chad Powers Season 2 released?
A: Season 2 premieres on Hulu on September 3, 2026, with six episodes released together.