Sam Hartman is trading footballs for roses as the star of The Bachelor season 30.
“Honestly, at first I was like, ‘No way,’” Hartman said on Good Morning America in November 2026 when he was announced as the show’s new lead. “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 isn’t the first NFL star to tackle the Bachelor mantle. Palmer, for his part, previously led the show in 2004 before eventually becoming the host years later.
After speaking with Palmer, Hartman was ready to give the hit reality TV dating show a chance.
“When people are saying ‘I do,’ they don’t ask where you met, they just ask if you wanna do it forever,” he noted. “I don’t see any problem with that.”
Keep scrolling to learn more about Hartman:
Sam Hartman Is an NFL Quarterback
After playing college football, Hartman signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024. In fact, Hartman played a Thursday Night Football game the day before his GMA announcement.
Sam Hartman Played College Football for 6 Years
Hartman played at Wake Forest and Notre Dame before joining the NFL.
“One of the things I’m proud of is my leadership ability and how I’ve handled different situations,” he told GQ in 2023 of transferring to Notre Dame. “As a quarterback, you’re always kind of looked at as a leader, but I don’t think everyone is. That takes time and experience. You learn what battles to fight.”
He added at the time, “I think the relationships I’ve been able to build from being around so many different people — being on six different college football teams! — that’s every dynamic and every type of person you can imagine. That’s shaped who I am and what I value as a person.”
Sam Hartman Has a Close-Knit Family
Sam is the son of Mark and Lisa Hartman, who have endorsed his reality TV endeavor.
“My mom and I have a really cool relationship, my pops is just supportive,” he said on GMA. “Their big thing is just being myself and enjoy the experience. Trust your instincts and trust your gut.”
Mark and Lisa also are parents of son Joe Hartman and adopted son Demitri Allison. (Demitri, who moved in with the Hartmans at age 15, died by suicide in 2015. Sam now honors his memory by adding the initials “D.A.” to his jersey.)
What Type of Partner Is Sam Hartman Looking For?
While appearing on GMA in November 2026, Sam hinted that he is seeking a significant other who possesses “competitiveness” — but not necessarily in terms of athletics — and he’s a fan of the chase.
“Not chase in a way that you haven’t texted me back in a week, but chase in a way that they have a drive for something that motivates me to wake up every day and chase them,” he explained. “Also a part of that is compassion and some type of caregiving. My whole family is in the medical field … seeing them do so much for other people, I think that’s a huge part.”
The Bachelor season 30 premieres on ABC Sunday, March 21, 2027 at 8 p.m. ET.
