Who is the new ‘Bachelor’ host? Meet Jesse Palmer, ESPN commentator and ex-NFL player
Clayton Echard’s season of “The Bachelor” begins Monday, Jan. 3, but one other former NFL player will also be helming the franchise. Jesse Palmer, a former NFL quarterback-turned-ESPN analyst, will be stepping in as host for season 26.
The 43-year-old might be a familiar face, and not just because Palmer and the Missouri native look eerily similar.
Palmer himself was season five’s Bachelor lead in 2005. He ultimately did not end up with the woman he chose and instead married Emely Fardo in 2020, People reported. The news of their marriage broke shortly after he was announced as the next host of “The Bachelor.”
Outside of “The Bachelor,” the Canada native played college football for the University of Florida before playing in the NFL as a quarterback for the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers.
He has held a spot with ESPN as a football analyst and commentator since 2007.
Palmer also has a career as a TV host. He leads the Food Network’s “Holiday Baking Championship” and has juggled a number of duties for ABC, including hosting “The Ultimate Surfer” and live events for “Good Morning America.”
He was named the next host of “The Bachelor” in September 2021 following Chris Harrison’s exit from the series after he defended racist photos from Rachael Kirkconnell, the winner of Matt James’ season in 2021.
This is the first “Bachelor” season since Harrison left the franchise. It is unclear whether Palmer will be the permanent host for future “Bachelor” seasons, and if Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will continue hosting “The Bachelorette” as they have done for the two seasons since Harrison’s exit.
“For more than 20 years, ‘The Bachelor’ has brought the world dozens of unforgettable love stories, including at one time, my own,” Palmer said in a news release. “Falling in love is one of life’s greatest gifts, and I am humbled by the opportunity to return to the show as host this season to offer the newest Bachelor advice gained from firsthand experience and I am grateful to play a small part in his journey.”
After Palmer was announced as host for Echard’s season, the comparisons between the two tall former NFL players came rolling in. In fact, Echard poked fun at the comments and said in an Instagram post he was “beginning to wonder if (they’re) the same person” because of their similar physical appearances.
Echard and Palmer developed a close bond over the filming of his season, he said.
“Blessed to have acquired a brother for life through this journey,” Echard wrote on Instagram. “Monday couldn’t come any quicker!”
