Detroit Native and Former NFL Star Named New ‘Golden Bachelor’

A Detroit native has been named the star of a very popular reality show.

Born and raised in Michigan, Mel Owens made his mark on the football field at the University of Michigan from 1977 to 1980. Fast forward to 2025, and he's taken on a new title: The Golden Bachelor.

That's right, Owens,66, will be the star of season 2 of 'The Golden Bachelor' on ABC.

The show is a spinoff of The Bachelor, featuring more mature individuals looking for love. If season two is anything like the first, all twenty-two female contestants vying for Mel’s heart will be between the ages of 60 and 75.

According to The Detroit News, Owens was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1981 and played nine seasons with the team.

After hanging up his cleats and helmet, Mel Owens became a lawyer and resides in Orange County, California. He does sound like quite the catch.

Owens was previously married for 25 years, and has two sons. Now, after several years as a devoted dad, Owens is ready to find love. The official press release for season 2 of 'The Golden Bachelor' shared the following information:

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.

This sounds like must-see TV to me.

I didn’t watch season one of 'The Golden Bachelor', but I’m interested now that a former Michigander is the star, or should I say, the leading man?

A premiere date for season two of 'The Golden Bachelor' has not yet been announced. I would be cool if one of the bachelorettes were from Michigan, too.