NFL Quarterback Sam Hartman to Lead Upcoming Season of The Bachelor

Washington Commanders backup quarterback Sam Hartman will step into the spotlight as the main star for the thirtieth season of the reality television series The Bachelor in 2027, according to an announcement made by ABC on Friday. Hartman, aged twenty-seven, spent his college football years playing for Wake Forest and Notre Dame before joining the Commanders as an unselected rookie signing in the spring of two thousand twenty-four. He has not yet played in a regular-season professional game and sits as the fourth-string quarterback on his team's roster. During his college playing days, he accumulated fifteen thousand six-five hundred fifty-six passing yards and one hundred thirty-four touchdowns across sixty appearances. His stats include throwing thirty-eight touchdowns in the year twenty-two for Wake Forest, followed by twelve games at Notre Dame where he completed sixty-three and a half percent of his passes for two thousand six hundred eighty-nine yards and twenty-four touchdowns. Speaking on a morning television program on Friday, Hartman admitted he feels nervous about dating thirty women at the same time, noting that holding a conversation with just one person can already prove difficult. He revealed that he initially said no to the opportunity before consulting with Jesse Palmer, a former professional quarterback and host of the program who previously starred on the show's fifth season while playing for the New York Giants. After talking with Palmer, Hartman changed his mind and decided to participate. He shared that his teammates offered him advice during a flight home following a twenty-four to twenty-one away victory against the New York Giants, though he joked that he plans to ignore their suggestions. Meanwhile, his parents voiced their support and advised him to stay true to himself throughout the journey. When asked about his preferences for a partner, Hartman stated that he values drive and motivation, looking for someone who shares a competitive spirit.

Context

Reality dating shows frequently cast professional athletes to draw in sports fans and create engaging television storylines. Other former college football players from Wake Forest, such as Tyler Cameron and Matt James, have previously appeared in related franchise programs. The show itself has run for nearly three decades since its inception and remains a major fixture of prime-time television programming.