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Who Is Mel Owens? Meet the ‘Golden Bachelor’ Season 2 Lead That Is ‘Ready to Rediscover’ Love
The Golden Bachelor — the charming Bachelor Nation spinoff that captured America’s heart — is back for season 2, and that means an exciting new, handsome lead! This time, fans will meet 66-year-old Mel Owens, a former NFL veteran-turned-lawyer, who’s ready to find love as the second-ever Golden Bachelor lead.
Who Is the ‘Golden Bachelor’ Season 2 Lead Mel Owens?
Mel was born and raised by a close-knit Midwestern family in Detroit, Michigan. Excelling early in sports at a young age, he went on to graduate from the University of Michigan before being selected as the ninth overall pick in the 1981 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams.
After retiring from professional football, he moved to Orange County, California, and transitioned into a career in law as he dedicated his life to helping others — specifically those suffering from sports-related injuries.
“After his 10 year career in the NFL, Mr. Owens obtained his Series 7 License and worked at Merrill Lynch as a financial advisor,” his bio reads on his law firm NBO Law website. “Thereafter, Mr. Owens attended law school and received his Juris Doctorate at the University of California at San Francisco – Hastings School of Law. In 2006, Mr. Owens became a founding partner at NBO Law. Mr. Owens is a lecturer in the field of workers’ compensation, sports law, sports injuries and disability benefits.”
Has ‘Golden Bachelor’ Season 2 Lead Mel Owens Been Married Before?
After relocating to Orange County, Mel met and married his first love. Together, they welcomed two sons. Although the marriage eventually came to an end, Mel devoted himself to family life, focusing “on raising his sons and coaching their extracurricular sports teams,” according to the press release.
“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 network teased. “As the Golden Bachelor, he’s eager to meet someone who shares this vision and finally find that perfect teammate he’s been waiting for in his golden years.”
As a result of his dedication as a dad and coach, both of his sons have gone off to receive baseball scholarships to Ohio State and Oklahoma State, respectively.
‘The Golden Bachelor’ Host Jesse Palmer Revealed Why Mel Owens Is the Perfect Lead
“Mel is obviously super handsome. He’s very charming, he’s very intelligent, he’s very successful,” Jesse Palmer told Us Weekly shortly after the casting announcement on April 22, 2025. “He had this incredible pro football career and transitioned into becoming a successful warrior. I think while he’s had a lot of success professionally, there have been some hills and valleys in his personal life.”
Jesse was referring to how Mel lost his father shortly before he and his wife divorced. Their names have not been made public so far.
“The tragic passing of his father, he went through a divorce — I think oftentimes you find out about somebody’s character when they go through tough, difficult times and it shifted all his focus and attention to raising his two boys,” Jesse explained about Mel. “He really became this devoted father, he put so much energy into them.
When Did the ‘Golden Bachelor’ Season 2 Film?
Filming for the spinoff is reportedly happening in the summer of 2025. Although Bachelor producers have yet to confirm the filming schedule, a question on the Golden Bachelor application asked if potential contestants had any commitments between June and August 2024, according to Showbiz Cheatsheet. In addition, the questionnaire asked if applicants had a valid passport through August 2025 and about their past criminal records.
Mel’s journey as the leading man follows a schedule similar to Joan Vassos’ season of The Golden Bachelorette, which began filming in June 2024 and concluded with the finale in Tahiti that August.
When Does ‘Golden Bachelor’ Season 2 Premiere?
ABC confirmed the reality TV dating show would be making its return to screens on April 22, 2025. However, a premiere date for the Golden Bachelor has yet to be announced by the network.
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