Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman is packing his bags for Bachelor Mansion.
The 27-year-old Charlotte, NC native has been announced as the “leading man” for Season 30 of “The Bachelor.”
A statement from ABC Entertainment says the “pro athlete is ready to find his forever teammate,” and will use “the same leadership and heart that won over fans on the field” as he prepares to hand out roses to the women vying for his love—and a Neil Lane engagement ring.
Hartman’s official “Bachelor” bio notes that he’s a “standout alum of Wake Forest and Notre Dame, where set legendary ACC records, including most career touchdown passes and 300-yard passing games.”
It’s not the heartthrob’s first time on television, as he was also a fan-favorite in the Netflix documentary series, “QB1: Beyond the Lights,” where he shared his journey as a top high school senior quarterback before moving into his Division I collegiate career.
“I’m very nervous,” Hartman admitted during a Nov. 13 appearance on “Good Morning America.”
“I have a tough time holding a conversation with one girl,” he said. “30 is gonna be pretty tough.”
Hartman said the experience felt too great to pass on, and sounds ready to head down the aisle with one of the 30 contestants he’ll soon meet.
“I think anybody in their right mind, if you get told, ‘Hey, you get a chance to go find the love of your life,’ I know one thing: When people are saying ‘I do,’ they don’t ask you where you met, they just ask you if you want to do it forever. And I don’t see any problem with that.”
Hartman split his high school career between two private schools in North Carolina and South Carolina. Although his football career has taken him across the country, his parents reside in Mount Pleasant, SC, where his father coaches high school football—a gig that’s kept him busy for more than two decades.
It’s a shame that the show’s milestone episode sees the lead heading to the hometowns of the final four contestants, and not vice versa, as Mount Pleasant is certainly a lovely place to visit. The suburban town is located just outside of Charleston, across the Cooper River.
Still, Hartman has his parents’ unrelenting support.
“They’re excited. My mom and I have a really cool relationship, and my pops is supportive,” he said. “Their big thing is to just be myself and enjoy the experience and trust your instincts, trust your gut. That’s what’s gotten you so far.”
While most of what lies ahead for Season 30 of “The Bachelor” remains a mystery, it’s safe to assume viewers can count on one thing: a return to Bachelor Mansion.
The show’s been on a two-year hiatus, so it’s been quite some time since we’ve seen a regular season set within the walls of the franchise’s most iconic property.
Built in 2004 by contractor Marshall Haraden, who still owns it today, the Bachelor Mansion’s real name is Villa de Vina. It’s a 9,000-square-foot estate where Haraden and his family reside for most of the year, but move out and stay in a hotel when the series is in production.
Each season, crews clear out much of the family’s furniture and redecorate to transform their abode into the backdrop fans have grown to love over countless seasons.
Although the lavish home has become an iconic destination in its own right, contestants have historically complained about the cramped living quarters they endure for the six weeks the show is in production.
Cast members famously sleep in bunk beds arranged in rows, and share crowded bathrooms and limited storage space.
Earlier this year, a dozen beloved Bachelor Nation alumni—including “The Bachelorette” Season 15 runner-up Tyler Cameron and former “The Bachelorette” lead Tayshia Adams—competed in an HGTV makeover competition called “Bachelor Mansion Takeover.”
“I did still have PTSD walking in here because I haven’t been here in years,” Adams admitted in an Entertainment Tonight interview ahead of the series premiere. Still, the cast seemed proud of the improvements they made to the home, which included upgraded bunk beds that Adams shared were “ten times better” than the previous setup.
“The Bachelor” Season 30 premieres Sunday, March 21 at 8:00 p.m. EST/PST on ABC.
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