Sam Hartman Bachelor news is now official. ABC named the Washington Commanders quarterback the new lead of The Bachelor on Friday, November 13. The 27-year-old will hand out roses in season 30, and the show returns on Sunday, March 21, 2027, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Key Facts
- What happened: ABC named Commanders QB Sam Hartman the lead of The Bachelor season 30 on November 13, 2026.
- Premiere: Sunday, March 21, 2027, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, streaming next day on Hulu.
- Who he is: Hartman is 27, a Charlotte native, and a former Wake Forest and Notre Dame star on Washington’s practice squad.
- Why it matters: He is reportedly the first lead from outside the franchise, and the show returns after a nearly two-year break.
Sam Hartman Bachelor news is now official. ABC named the Washington Commanders quarterback the new lead of The Bachelor on Friday, November 13. The 27-year-old will hand out roses in season 30, and the show returns on Sunday, March 21, 2027, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC.
Hartman shared the news live on Good Morning America, hours after Washington beat the New York Giants 24-21 on Thursday night. However, he admitted the dating show scares him a little. “I’m excited but also very nervous,” he told the hosts.
How Sam Hartman Became the New Bachelor
Hartman did not say yes right away. In fact, he first turned the offer down. Then a talk with host Jesse Palmer changed his mind. Palmer is a former NFL quarterback, and he starred on The Bachelor himself in 2004.
“I got really lucky and talked to Jesse Palmer, and he kind of gave me the insight, what it is and what it’s not,” Hartman said. As a result, he decided to take the leap. ABC called him “ready to find his forever teammate” in its announcement.
Still, Hartman knows the job will test him. “I have a tough time holding a conversation with one girl. Thirty is going to be pretty tough,” he joked.
Hartman at SoFi Stadium in October 2025. Photo: All-Pro Reels, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Who Is Sam Hartman?
Hartman was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, on July 29, 1999. He became a college football star at Wake Forest, where he played from 2018 to 2022. In that time, he threw an ACC-record 110 touchdown passes and 12,967 passing yards.
He spent his final college year at Notre Dame in 2023, throwing for 2,689 yards and 24 touchdowns. In total, his college career ended with 15,656 passing yards and 134 touchdowns. That total ties him for third all time in FBS history.
Hartman throws for Wake Forest against Army in October 2021. Photo: U.S. Army photo by CDT Tyler Williams, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
The NFL draft passed him by in 2024, so he signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent. He has not played in a regular-season NFL game yet. In August 2026, the team cut him in final roster cuts, then signed him back to the practice squad the next day. Wake Forest football jokingly claimed the title of “Bachelor U” online.
When Does the Sam Hartman Bachelor Season Premiere?
The Sam Hartman Bachelor season premieres Sunday, March 21, 2027, from 8 to 10 p.m. ET on ABC. It is a two-hour premiere. The Sunday slot is also a change for the show, which has long aired on Monday nights. Episodes will stream the next day on Hulu.
Filming has not started yet. Reports say production will begin in early 2027, after the NFL season ends on January 10, 2027. His practice-squad deal runs through the end of Washington’s season. So his football future for 2027 still depends on whether Washington, or another team, signs him again.
ABC has not named the women who will compete for Hartman’s final rose. Fans should treat any cast list floating around online as rumor until ABC shares it.
Why the Sam Hartman Bachelor Casting Is a Big Swing for ABC
This casting breaks the franchise’s usual mold. Hartman is reportedly the first lead picked from outside the Bachelor world. He never appeared on The Bachelorette or Bachelor in Paradise. In addition, he is only the fifth athlete to lead the show, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The timing is bold, too. The franchise has been quiet for nearly two years. The last full season, led by Grant Ellis, ended in March 2025. Then ABC scrapped a planned Bachelorette season starring Taylor Frankie Paul in March 2026, amid reports of a domestic violence incident involving her former partner.
Now ABC has its answer. A young NFL quarterback with a huge college résumé and zero reality TV baggage leads the relaunch. The network clearly wants the milestone 30th season to feel like an event.
Sam Hartman Bachelor: Key Dates
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Nov 12, 2026 | Washington beats the New York Giants 24-21 |
| Nov 13, 2026 | ABC names Hartman the season 30 Bachelor on Good Morning America |
| Jan 10, 2027 | NFL regular season ends; filming is expected to start soon after |
| Mar 21, 2027 | Season 30 premieres at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, streaming next day on Hulu |
What Happens Next for Sam Hartman?
First, Hartman must finish the NFL season with Washington. Then the cameras take over. Casting for the 30 women is still under way, and ABC will likely reveal them closer to filming.
Hartman visits Walter Reed in November 2025. Photo: Roan Smith, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Will Sam Hartman Still Play Football?
That question has no answer yet. His practice-squad contract covers this season only. Meanwhile, filming fits into the NFL offseason, so the show should not clash with football. In other words, Hartman can chase love on TV and still chase a roster spot next summer.
The Sam Hartman Bachelor era also tests a bigger idea. Can a complete outsider, with no Bachelor Nation history, carry the franchise’s biggest season? ABC is betting he can. We will find out on March 21.
For more on reality TV pay, see our guide to how much reality TV stars get paid. Also read our coverage of I’m A Celebrity 2026.
