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Meet the new Golden Bachelor! 

On Tuesday, ABC announced that it had renewed The Golden Bachelor for season 2. The network also revealed the identity of the guy who would follow in Gerry Turner’s footsteps for the dating show’s sophomore outing: Mel Owens.

Mel Owens played for the LA Rams in the 1980s 

'The Golden Bachelor' Mel Owens during a LA Rams game in 1985
Mel Owens (left) of the Los Angeles Rams during a 1985 game against the San Francisco 49ers | Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images
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Owens is a 66-year-old former NFL player-turned-lawyer from Orange County, California. Born and raised in Detroit, Owens attended the University of Michigan. He was selected as the ninth overall pick in the 1981 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams. 

Owens played his entire career as a linebacker for the Rams. In the photo above, he scrambles to tackle wide receiver Freddie Solomon during a October 1985 game against the San Francisco 49ers. 

During his time with the Rams, Owens recorded four interceptions and 26.5 sacks, according to ESPN. He retired in 1991 following an injury. But he kept a toe in the sports world, setting up practice as a lawyer specializing in sports-related injuries. 

“I represent injured players with their worker’s compensation and disabilities,” he said in a 2024 interview at the NFL Draft (via YouTube), which was held in his hometown of Detroit. “So, I’m still connected to the game.”

While working as a lawyer, Owens met his first love, and they went on to marry and have two sons. When his dad died and his marriage ended, Owens “channeled his energy into being the best father he could be, focusing on raising his sons and coaching their extracurricular sports teams,” ABC shared in press release announcing Owens’ casting. 

“Now, after several years as a devoted dad, Owens is ready to rediscover a love rooted in the simple joys of companionship – sharing life’s everyday moments, making plans for the future, and growing stronger together as a couple,” the announcement continued. 

When will ‘The Golden Bachelor’ Season 2 premiere?

ABC has not announced a premiere date for The Golden Bachelor Season 2. The first season of The Bachelor spinoff averaged 10.4 million viewers in the first 35 days across multiple platforms, according to the network. That season ended with Turner marrying Theresa Nist in a televised ceremony. However, just a few months later, Turner and Nist announced they planned to divorce. 

Casting Owens as the next Golden Bachelor is something of a break from tradition for the long-running franchise. Typically, Bachelors and Bachelorettes are chosen from among the cast of the previous season of either The Bachelorette or The Bachelor. But Owens was not a cast member on the first season of The Golden Bachelorette, which starred Joan Vassos and aired in 2024. 

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