Eli Manning

The former Giants quarterback went undercover to a Nittany Lions walk-on clinic, with hilarious results.

He also delivered a terrific one-liner in regard to one of his biggest rivals. [Eli Manning](https://www.si.com/nfl/player/eli-manning) has had some fun in retired life, from doing the Monday Night Football [“Manning Cast” with brother Peyton](https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2022/09/13/eli-manning-lands-another-zinger-on-brother-peyton-during-manningcast) to broadcasting “Eli’s Places” on ESPN+. On one of the latest episodes of “Eli’s Places, the former [Giants](https://www.si.com/nfl/team/new-york-giants) quarterback went undercover at a [Penn State](https://www.si.com/college/college-football/team/penn-state-nittany-lions) football walk-on tryout.

Many were wondering why Eli Manning was at Penn State last month awarding punter Barney Amor a scholarship. Well, we have our answer.

Manning is a Louisiana native who went to school at Ole Miss. In a video on the Nittany Lions’ Twitter feed that has since surpassed 3,000 likes, the two-time Super Bowl champion was filmed A few weeks ago, Eli Manning was at Holuba Hall for a Penn State practice.

Eli Manning tried out to play quarterback for the Penn State Nittany Lions as part of his ESPN+ series Eli's Places.

And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Worth a watch, especially for Penn State fans fizzing at the team's 3-0 start and big win at Auburn. [First Look: Penn State vs. "Never played ball," Manning/Powers tells Penn State offensive analyst Danny O'Brien while showing off a still-impressive arm. Central Michigan](https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/first-look-penn-state-vs-central-michigan-at-beaver-stadium) [Nicholas Singleton is setting a spectacular early pace](https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/penn-states-nicholas-singleton-is-off-to-the-programs-best-start-since-2002) [Why James Franklin isn't eager to make another road trip to the SEC](https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/penn-state-coach-james-franklin-isnt-keen-on-returning-to-the-sec) [Penn State makes a big leap in the Week 4 polls](https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/penn-state-makes-big-jump-in-the-week-3-college-football-polls) [The Penn State-Auburn report card](https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/the-penn-state-auburn-report-card-following-the-lions-41-12-victory) [Game breakdown: Penn State's defense throttles Auburn 41-12](https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/penn-state-vs-auburn-football-game-breakdown) [Penn State proposes expanding alcohol sales at Beaver Stadium](https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/penn-state-trustees-to-address-expanded-beer-sales-at-beaver-stadium)

An upcoming "Eli's Places" episode has Eli Manning going "undercover" at Penn State as walk-on QB candidate "Chad Powers."

Props to him and to Penn State coach [James Franklin](https://thecomeback.com/tag/james-franklin) for trying out this bit. [Manning](https://awfulannouncing.com/tag/eli-manning) dress up this way and throw some balls at a Penn State practice. [interview series](https://awfulannouncing.com/local-networks/msg-has-partnered-with-caesars-for-a-j-b-smoove-hosted-interview-series.html) with J.B. [ManningCast](https://awfulannouncing.com/tag/manningcast) to date [has been discovering](https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/eli-manning-was-the-breakout-star-of-the-manningcasts-inaugural-season.html) what an entertaining goof Eli Manning can be. Smoove and hosting his own Eli’s Places [ESPN+ series](https://awfulannouncing.com/espn/eli-manning-reveals-he-is-going-to-host-elis-places-on-espn.html). Wednesday will mark the debut of the seventh episode of nine this season, with the final two debuting next Wednesday.

Penn State football held its biannual tryout for walk-ons prior to the 2022 season. Participants were greeted with a famous face...sort of.

But the 41-year old also got to reveal that the Nittany Lions were offering a scholarship to walk-on punter Barney Amour, too. Eli Manning took part in the tryouts as part of his ESPN segment, "Eli's Places." It didn't shock all those who took part in the tryouts, though.

Two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning went undercover as a walk-in at the Penn State football program, but his "Chad Powers" disguise made him look older ...

- NFL.

The two-time Super Bowl champion wore a disguise and even fooled one of the team's offensive analysts.

“I did some background check and one of the guys you’re competing with has kind of been disqualified,” Franklin said, addressing the roster hopefuls. “I wanna sign the Chad Powers guy,” O’Brien said. It was a heartwarming story, but given Manning’s complete lack of connection to any Penn State sport, it was mildly out of left field. But on top of that, he’s ineligible.” “Chad Powers may not have made the team, but he learned a lot,” Manning said. Wearing a Hollywood disguise, Manning assumed the identity of “Chad Powers” — a part-time substitute teacher, part-time carpenter, and full-time fan of Penn State football.

Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning goes undercover as Chad Powers to try out as a walk-on at Penn State University.

Please consider supporting us with a subscription. The two are one in the same as the former [New York Giants](https://www.nj.com/giants/) quarterback goes undercover with the alias “Chad Powers” in a new, hilarious video where he tires to walk on at [ Penn State](https://gopsusports.com/sports/football). Powers then gets up in front of the group to reveal himself as Eli Manning. [Danny O’Brien](https://3downnation.com/2022/09/19/former-cfl-quarterback-danny-obrien-gets-punkd-by-eli-manning-in-viral-video/) asks Powers what team he last played on, he responds: “I was homeschooled. So I never played ball. [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na2hOcx4uX8&t=96s). Pickup ball. People at the tryout are perplexed when Powers walks in. [See the best NJ Sports Betting sites](https://www.nj.com/betting/nfl/football-betting-sites.html) His look is complete with a shaggy haircut and costume makeup to disguise him. [STUBHUB](https://fave.co/34tCEu3), [VIVID SEATS](https://fave.co/3PhaEAc), [TICKETSMARTER](https://fave.co/34x1SaR), [TICKETMASTER](https://fave.co/3l18G9d) [ Eli Manning](https://www.nj.com/giants/2022/09/texas-commit-arch-manning-nephew-of-giants-eli-manning-shows-why-hes-a-5-star-recruit.html).

New York Giants legend Eli Manning went undercover as Chad Powers for a walk-on tryout at Penn State University.

And that obviously worked to perfection. I’m sure they’re not getting what ‘read’ many walk-ons are working on.” “Head coach James Franklin was in on it, but didn’t really tell any of the other coaches. [September 20, 2022] [September 19, 2022] The ManningCast has become a worldwide hit.

It's incredible to see just how delightful Eli Manning is since walking away from football. We always knew both he and Peyton had the chops for comedy, ...

I go by Chad Powers— Eli Manning (@EliManning) Easily the best part is when Eli, sorry “Chad” puts the ball in his hands for passing drills. On Monday ESPN released a teaser for Eli’s Places, a college football show on ESPN Plus.

Omaha Productions has received multiple offers following Eli Manning's portrayal of "Chad Powers" -- a player trying to make it as a walk-on at Penn State ...

One of the ideas ... and it's won a bunch of awards. Of course, TMZ Sports posted the clip from "Eli's Places" on Monday ... showing Powers doing everything from running the 40-yard dash (5.49 seconds) to throwing deep balls, all while providing hilarious commentary ("Chad Powers. [Omaha Productions](https://omahaproductions.com/), owned by [Peyton Manning](https://www.tmz.com/people/peyton-manning/), has been flooded by people in the entertainment industry who wish to work with Manning/Powers.

Two-time Super Bowl winner Eli Manning is retired, but that didnt stop him from trying out for the Nittany Lions under the name of Chad Powers.

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Retired NFL quarterback Eli Manning went undercover as a potential walk-on at Penn State in a viral video for ESPN and punk'd former CFL quarterback Danny ...

He famously defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowls XLII and LXVI and was named to four Pro Bowls. Manning was the first overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and played 16 seasons for the New York Giants, throwing for 57,023 yards, 366 touchdowns, and 244 interceptions. A professional makeup artist disguised him with facial prosthetics, a moustache, wig, and sideburns in a relatively effective effort to hide his age and identity.

Eli Manning spoke to Ryan Glasspiegel of The New York Post on his "Chad Powers" undercover tryout and how only James Franklin was in on it.

“But it wasn’t really until that day that I was told I’d have to run a 40, do a 5-10-5, do a broad jump, triple broad jump. “Head coach James Franklin was in on it, but didn’t really tell any of the other coaches.” One key question with that clip was how many Nittany Lions players and coaches seen there were aware of what was going on.

Eli Manning went undercover at the Nittany Lions walk-on tryouts as Chad Powers for his ESPN+ show Eli's Places. Head coach James Franklin was in on the ...

Manning donned a mustache and a wig of long blonde hair in disguise for his show “Eli’s Places” on ESPN+. Manning remarked on how similar the look of his disguise and a youthful photo of his father looked: Retired New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning went undercover as “Chad Powers” in a faux attempt to try out for quarterback for the Nittany Lions.

Manning attended the Nittany Lion's walk-on workout and performed in front of coach James Franklin.

Then he got a chance to flex his arm talent in quarterback drills. Franklin says in the video that it’s because he exhausted his eligibility. “When they reached out about doing this, obviously we wanted to be a part of it,” Penn State coach James Franklin said. Manning (or Powers) broad jumped 7-foot-10 and ran the 40-yard dash in 5.49 seconds, which was much slower than his 4.90 official time at the 2004 NFL combine. He wore a Penn State football T-shirt and just enough makeup to mask his identity. Bro, he is not a freshman.