Signing Tony Raymond is a 2025 American sports comedy-drama film written and directed by Glen Owen. The film stars Michael Mosley, Mira Sorvino, Rob Morgan, and former NFL players Marshawn Lynch and Brian Bosworth. The story follows a college football coach who travels to rural Alabama to recruit a top high school prospect, only to encounter eccentric locals and a dysfunctional family.
| Signing Tony Raymond | |
|---|---|
 Poster | |
| Directed by | Glen Owen |
| Written by | Glen Owen |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Daniel Friedberg |
| Edited by | Patrick Perry |
| Music by | John Timothy Roberts |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Iconic Events Releasing |
Release dates |
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Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The film premiered at the Austin Film Festival on October 24, 2025, and was released in the United States by Iconic Events Releasing on January 16, 2026.[1]
Plot
editWalt McFadden (Michael Mosley), a talented but overlooked assistant coach at Louisiana University, is given a make-or-break assignment by his head coach, Crew Marshall (Charles Esten). To save his job and secure a promotion, Walt must travel to rural Alabama and sign the nation's number one high school defensive end, Tony Raymond. Armed with a bag of cash for a NIL deal, Walt arrives in town only to find himself out of his depth.
He faces immediate competition from a frenzy of rival recruiters and must navigate the demands of Tony's wildly dysfunctional family, including his formidable mother Sandra (Mira Sorvino) and stepfather Otis (Rob Morgan), who seems more interested in the recruitment money than his stepson's future. As Walt struggles to locate the elusive Tony, he encounters various local characters, including Eugene Ledford (Marshawn Lynch), and discovers that the values of the game he loves may be getting lost in the business of winning.
Cast
edit- Michael Mosley as Walt McFadden, a college football recruiter.
- Mira Sorvino as Sandra Henderson, Tony Raymond's mother.
- Rob Morgan as Otis Henderson, Tony's stepfather.
- Marshawn Lynch as Eugene Ledford
- Brian Bosworth as Coach Buck Tubbs
- Charles Esten as Coach Crew Marshall
- Champ Bailey as himself
- Brad Carter as Ronnie Raymond
- Brandon Quinn as Rich Akers
- Jennifer Pierce Mathus as Judy Marshall
Production
editDevelopment
editThe film was written and directed by Glen Owen, a University of Georgia alumnus and former basketball player. The project was produced by Southern Isles Pictures, State Line Films, and Point South Productions with financing entirely raised in Georgia.[2] Champ Bailey, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, served as an executive producer on the film.
Filming
editPrincipal photography took place in Georgia, which stood in for the film's setting in the Deep South.
Release
editSigning Tony Raymond held its world premiere at the Austin Film Festival in Austin, TX, on October 24, 2025. It received a limited theatrical release in the United States on January 16, 2026, distributed by Iconic Events Releasing.[3]
Reception
editPre-release promotional material highlighted the film's satirical take on the modern college recruitment process and the name, image, and likeness (NIL) era of NCAA sports. Film Threat noted the ensemble cast's "authentic charisma" in portraying the world of high-stakes football recruitment.[4]
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 75% of 12 critics' reviews are positive.[5]
References
edit- ↑ "Signing Tony Raymond (2026) Showtimes". Fandango Media. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Signing Tony Raymond - RIFF 2025". Eventive. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Everything You Need to Know About Signing Tony Raymond Movie (2026)". Movie Insider. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
- ↑ "SIGNING TONY RAYMOND - Official 4K Trailer (2025) Film Threat Trailers". Film Threat. November 18, 2025. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Signing Tony Raymond". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved March 13, 2026.