After handing Nick Viall the roses as The Bachelor lead in season 21, ABC disappointed fans further when it went back in time to find Arie Luyendyk Jr. the Bachelor in season 22, and now the network has returned to selecting a rejected finalist from the previous season’s Bachelorette with Colton Underwood. After appearing on Becca Kufrin’s season, Underwood made himself known by continuing on to Bachelor in Paradise, and now he is the season 23 Bachelor! Fans of the series are definitely divided on how they feel about the latest pick, so here is everything we know about him ahead of season 23 in 2019:
12. Former NFL Player
Before Underwood was tackling the reality TV dating realm, he was out there getting tackled. Underwood played as a tight end for Illinois State and afterwards he was signed by the San Diego Chargers in 2014. While he was signed in the NFL, he never actually played a regulation NFL game in his career. After a short stint with the Chargers, Underwood went to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad but was released only a week later. After a brief return to the Chargers, he went to the Oakland Raiders’ practice squad but was released in August 2016 and decided to retire from football.