The Golden Bachelor announced Tuesday that former NFL player Mel Owens’ would be the bachelor for the second season of the show.
“He’s 66 and single—for now,” the show wrote on Instagram. “Meet Mel Owens, a former NFL player-turned-lawyer, proud father, and your next Golden Bachelor.”
Owens spent nine seasons (1981-89) as a linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams, appearing in 122 games and registering four interceptions and 26.5 sacks. After his retirement he worked at Merrill Lynch as a financial adviser and later obtained his law degree and focused on “workers’ compensation, sports law, sports injuries and disability benefits,” per Joe Otterson of Variety.
He was previously married for 25 years and has two sons.
“After several years as a devoted dad, Owens is ready to rediscover a love rooted in the simple joys of companionship—sharing life’s everyday moments, making plans for the future, and growing stronger together as a couple,” ABC said in a press release (h/t KiMi Robinson of USA Today). “As the Golden Bachelor, he’s eager to meet someone who shares this vision and finally find that perfect teammate he’s been waiting for in his golden years.”
Bachelor host Jesse Palmer called Owens an “excellent choice to be our next Golden Bachelor” and described him as “handsome” and “charming,” adding that he’s been “really successful professionally, very intelligent. But he’s also very genuine, and he’s a family man.”
