Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman named star of ABC's 'The Bachelor' 30th season

Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman, 27, was named the next star of ABC's reality show The Bachelor on Friday. The 30th season, set to premiere in March 2027, will ask him to date 20 to 30 women at once.

Hartman's casting was announced on Good Morning America Friday morning, and he admitted to nerves: “I'm excited but also very nervous.” The news came after the Commanders' 24-21 win over the New York Giants on Thursday night, and Hartman said teammates offered advice on the flight back to D.C. He signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Before that he spent five seasons at Wake Forest, throwing for 12,967 yards and 110 touchdowns, then transferred to Notre Dame, where he threw for 2,689 yards in the regular season. The show is returning after a two-year hiatus, and past leads have included Grant Ellis and former NFL players Mel Owens, Jesse Palmer, Colton Underwood and Clay Harbor.

The left-leaning Washington Post leads with the format, saying Hartman will be asked to date 20 to 30 women at once, and calls him a practice squad player. The alternative outlet ESPN frames the news as a milestone, with a headline stressing the 30th season and his time as a former Notre Dame standout, and it gives the March 2027 premiere date. The right-leaning Daily Mail leads with fan shock, reporting that fans were stunned, and features Hartman's own hesitation and his praise for Jesse Palmer's advice, along with teammates' jokes. The Daily Caller emphasizes his college record and the show's history of former NFL players, adding the March 21 premiere and streaming on Hulu. The sides clash on his role: the Post says practice squad, while the Daily Caller says backup quarterback. They agree on the core facts: Hartman, the 30th season and the casting announcement.