bostonherald
After a year of turmoil for 'The Bachelor' franchise, ABC is returning to a familiar source: the NFL. The network revealed on Friday that Sam Hartman, a quarterback for the Washington Commanders, will be the one distributing roses on the show's 30th season.
Season 30 is scheduled to debut on March 21, according to a network statement. Hartman, 27, is currently a member of the Commanders' practice squad and has not yet appeared in a regular-season game.
He made the announcement Friday on 'Good Morning America,' just hours after the Commanders defeated the New York Giants on Thursday night. 'I have a tough time holding conversation with one girl; 30 is going to be pretty tough,' he joked to the hosts.
Hartman admitted that his initial reaction to the offer was 'no way,' but a conversation with host Jesse Palmer changed his mind. Palmer, who was a quarterback for the Giants when he led the fifth season of 'The Bachelor,' is himself a former lead.
Other NFL players who have transitioned to the Bachelor franchise include Colton Underwood and Clayton Echard, both of whom were contestants on 'The Bachelorette' before becoming leads on 'The Bachelor.' Underwood spent time on practice squads, while Echard attended a training camp. Additionally, Mel Owens, the Golden Bachelor for Season 2 of the spinoff, was a linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams.
Hartman's selection again deviates from the typical pattern of casting former contestants from 'The Bachelorette' and 'The Bachelor' as leads. Last year, the network attempted a different approach by choosing Taylor Frankie Paul, star of 'Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,' for 'The Bachelorette,' but that season was ultimately shelved in March amid domestic abuse allegations.
No show in the Bachelor universe has aired since 'Bachelor in Paradise' in summer 2025, marking a significant hiatus for a franchise that has been a staple of reality TV since 2002.
Hartman, a Charlotte, North Carolina, native who played college football at Wake Forest and Notre Dame, said he was nervous about the role. He told the 'Good Morning America' hosts that his criteria for a potential fiancée include someone he can chase—'chase in the way they have a drive for something that motivates me to wake up every day and chase them'—as well as compassion and a caregiving nature, citing his family's background in the medical field. 'They gotta be ready to bring their competitive spirit,' he said.
Key Analysis
Hartman's casting underscores ABC's strategy of leveraging sports fame to rejuvenate the dating show, which has faced recent setbacks. By tapping into the NFL's built-in audience, the network aims to recapture viewer interest while maintaining the franchise's long-standing appeal.
Originally reported by bostonherald.