TL;DR
Sam Hartman, a 27-year-old quarterback on the Washington Commanders’ practice squad, has been named the lead of ABC’s The Bachelor season 30. The season is scheduled to premiere March 21, 2027, and Hartman said he is excited but nervous about meeting 30 women.
Sam Hartman, a 27-year-old quarterback on the Washington Commanders’ practice squad, will lead ABC’s The Bachelor season 30, the network announced Friday. The milestone season is scheduled to premiere March 21, 2027, bringing the NFL player’s search for a partner to the reality series.
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Hartman discussed the casting in his first interview about the role on Good Morning America on Nov. 13, according to ABC7 New York’s report. He said he was both excited and nervous about the process, which will involve meeting a group of 30 women. The series is expected to air on ABC and stream on Hulu the following day.
“I’m excited but also very nervous,” Hartman said on the morning program. He also joked about the challenge of the format: “I have a tough time holding conversation with one girl. 30 is going to be pretty tough.” The comments offer his initial reaction, but do not provide details about the contestants or filming.
Hartman played college football at Wake Forest University before transferring to the University of Notre Dame for his final season in 2023. He signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2024. ABC7 reports that he is currently on the Commanders’ practice squad; the announcement makes no claim that he is a starting NFL quarterback.
An NFL Player Leads Season 30
Hartman’s casting brings a professional football player to the center of ABC’s long-running dating franchise for its 30th season. His public profile is tied to football, including his college records and current place in Washington’s organization, while the show will present him in a different role: choosing a partner through its televised dating format.
The announcement also gives ABC a recognizable sports figure as the season’s lead and sets a firm date for the series’ return. For viewers, the immediate news is the identity of the lead and the premiere schedule; details about how his football commitments intersect with production have not been announced in the source report.
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Hartman’s Football Career
Hartman is a North Carolina native who spent five seasons at Wake Forest before playing his final college season at Notre Dame in 2023. ABC7 reports he finished college with 134 touchdown passes, an Atlantic Coast Conference record, and set several Wake Forest school records.
In 2022, while at Wake Forest, Hartman was diagnosed with Paget-Schroetter syndrome, a condition involving blood clots in a vein near the collarbone, according to the National Library of Medicine as cited by ABC7. He returned to play that season and received the ACC’s Brian Piccolo Award, which recognizes the conference’s “most courageous” football player. He entered the NFL in 2024 as an undrafted signing with Washington.
““I’m excited but also very nervous.””
— Sam Hartman, speaking on Good Morning America
Casting and Filming Details Pending
The announcement and ABC7 report do not identify the women who will appear on the season, say when filming will begin, or describe the season’s format beyond Hartman’s role as the lead. It is also unclear whether the series will address his football career or practice-squad schedule on screen.
No further statements from the Commanders or details about Hartman’s work arrangements were included in the source report. The scheduled premiere date is reported, but production plans or possible changes have not been described.
Season 30 Set for March
The Bachelor season 30 is scheduled to premiere on Sunday, March 21, 2027, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC, with streaming on Hulu the next day, according to ABC7 New York. Further announcements are expected to fill in the cast and production details before the premiere; none were provided in the report.
Until ABC releases more information, the confirmed details are Hartman’s selection as the lead, his first public comments about the role, and the announced broadcast date. Viewers will need to wait for the network’s upcoming announcements for information about contestants and the season’s filming.
Key Questions
Who will lead The Bachelor season 30?
Sam Hartman, a 27-year-old quarterback on the Washington Commanders’ practice squad, has been named the season’s lead.
When does season 30 premiere?
The season is scheduled to premiere March 21, 2027, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. It is set to stream on Hulu the next day.
What did Hartman say about joining the show?
Hartman said on Good Morning America that he was “excited but also very nervous.” He also joked that meeting 30 women would be difficult because he has trouble holding a conversation with one girl.
Has ABC announced the contestants?
The source report does not name any contestants. ABC has announced Hartman as the lead, but further cast details remain pending.
What is Hartman’s NFL status?
ABC7 New York describes Hartman as a Washington Commanders practice-squad quarterback. He signed with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2024.
Source: abc7ny.com
