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ABC Names Sam Hartman Next Bachelor Star

The former Washington Commanders quarterback will lead season 30 of The Bachelor, which premieres March 21, 2027.

Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Football

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ABC has named former Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman as the lead of season 30 of The Bachelor, premiering March 21, 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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ABC named Sam Hartman, a 27-year-old quarterback for the Washington Commanders, as the next star of The Bachelor. The show returns for its 30th season on March 21, 2027.

Why it matters

The announcement moves a current NFL player into the franchise's lead role, extending a milestone season of the long-running dating series. Hartman's first interview on Good Morning America framed his search for love as the focus of the new season.

Hartman finished his college career with 134 touchdown passes, an ACC record, before signing with the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024. The announcement does not address how his NFL contract status affects his participation in the show.

The players

Sam Hartman

Hartman is a quarterback who played college football at Wake Forest and Notre Dame before joining the Washington Commanders.

ABC

ABC is a major American broadcast television network that produces and airs The Bachelor.

Washington Commanders

The Washington Commanders are an NFL franchise based in the Washington, D.C. area that signed Hartman as an undrafted free agent in 2024.

The details

Hartman was announced as the lead on Good Morning America, where he gave his first interview about his search for love. Season 30 premieres Sunday, March 21, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and streams the next day on Hulu.

Timeline

  1. 2022: Hartman received the ACC's Brian Piccolo Award while at Wake Forest.

  2. 2023: Hartman transferred to the University of Notre Dame for his final college season.

  3. 2024: Hartman signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent.

  4. November 2026: Hartman was announced as the next Bachelor star on Good Morning America.

  5. Sunday, March 21, 2027: Season 30 premieres on ABC at 8 p.m. ET.

Roadmap

Casting an active NFL player as the lead continues a pattern in which professional athletes move into reality-dating television. The move keeps The Bachelor tied to sports personalities as it reaches its 30th season.

Viewers who follow Hartman's NFL career can watch his personal search for love on the premiere night of the new season. Hulu will stream the episodes the day after each ABC broadcast.

The takeaway

Athletes with high-profile college and pro careers are increasingly moving into reality television, and Hartman's casting shows how sports fame can carry into dating franchises. Fans can follow the season on ABC and Hulu starting March 21, 2027.

What happens next

Season 30 of The Bachelor premieres Sunday, March 21, 2027, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.

Further reading

For more on the league Hartman plays in, see Football coverage.

Live Poll

Do you plan to watch the next season of The Bachelor?