Sam Hartman Named Lead of ‘The Bachelor’ Season 30 After NFL Cut

WHO:

NY Post - Sam Hartman, a former Notre Dame quarterback and Washington Commanders player, was named the lead of *The Bachelor* season 30.

Deadline - Hartman is a 27-year-old professional athlete.

TMZ - ABC announced Hartman, identified as a Washington Commanders quarterback, as the next lead.

WHAT:

ComingSoon - Hartman said he initially reacted to the Bachelor opportunity with, “No way.”

US Magazine - Hartman said he spoke with Jesse Palmer, who gave him advice about joining the show.

NBC Sports - Hartman entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and has been on and off Washington’s 53-man roster.

NBC Sports - Hartman has not appeared in a regular-season NFL game.

NBC Sports - Hartman began his college career at Wake Forest before transferring to Notre Dame for his final season.

NBC Sports - Jesse Palmer was the first professional athlete to appear on *The Bachelor*; he was with the New York Giants at the time.

NY Post - Hartman was cut by the Washington Commanders before being named *The Bachelor* lead.

NY Post - Hartman will hand out roses in the franchise’s milestone season.

Deadline - Hartman will search for love in the 30th season of the reality series.

TMZ - ABC announced Hartman as the next lead of *The Bachelor*.

NY Post - One article described the series as returning for its 30th season.

WHERE:

Deadline - The season will air on ABC and stream on Hulu and Hulu on [article text is truncated].

TMZ - ABC announced Hartman on *Good Morning America*.

WHEN:

Deadline - The season is scheduled to premiere on Sunday, March 21, at 8 p.m. on ABC and stream the next day on Hulu.

WHY:

NY Post - The season is described as a milestone because it is the franchise’s 30th.

HOW:

NBC Sports - Jesse Palmer, the former *Bachelor* lead, is now the show’s host.

NY Post - Hartman had previously appeared on a reality show.

TMZ - ABC made the announcement during *Good Morning America* and shared a statement describing Hartman as “changing the game as the leading…” (the quoted statement is truncated in the article excerpt).

Former Notre Dame quarterback Sam Hartman will lead the thirtieth season of The Bachelor. The 27-year-old was cut by Washington and has never played an NFL regular-season game. The season premieres March 21 on ABC, with episodes streaming on Hulu the next day.