Colton Underwood transitioned from an undrafted NFL free agent to one of the most recognizable faces in reality television history. His journey through ABC's powerhouse franchise—highlighted by a dramatic fence jump, massive media scrutiny, and a subsequent personal transformation—solidified his place in pop culture lore. Long before his high-profile public coming out, Underwood built an image as a wholesome, athletic heartthrob that captivated millions of viewers across multiple seasons.
Understanding his trajectory requires looking past standard television edits to examine how sports backgrounds, network casting formulas, and personal revelations collided. From his early days on The Bachelorette to hosting dating formats years later, Underwood's media footprint remains a fascinating case study in reality television packaging and personal reinvention.
From Gridiron Dreams to Reality Television Casting
Long before stepping onto a soundstage for ABC, Underwood pursued a career in professional football. A standout defensive end at Illinois State University, he signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2014. Stints on the practice squads of the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders followed before injuries and roster cuts ended his athletic career.
Network casting directors frequently look for former athletes because they bring built-in competitiveness, camera comfort, and clear narrative arcs. When Underwood joined season 14 of The Bachelorette featuring Becca Kufrin, producers immediately leaned into his athletic background and wholesome persona.
- The Athlete Archetype: Shows like The Bachelor rely heavily on recognizable character tropes, casting former athletes to project physical strength combined with emotional vulnerability.
- The Edit: Producers capitalized on his past relationships and clean-cut image to position him as a protective, traditional romantic lead.
- The Transition: Moving from professional sports to unscripted television requires a specific kind of media literacy, which Underwood navigated by leaning into emotional transparency on screen.
The Peak: The Bachelor and the Infamous Fence Jump
Following a stint on Bachelor in Paradise, Underwood secured the leading role for season 23 of The Bachelor, which aired in early 2019. The season centered relentlessly on his personal life, turning his virginity into a central plot point promoted heavily across network trailers.
The pressure cooker of the show reached its absolute peak during a pivotal episode in Portugal. After frontrunner Cassie Randolph chose to leave the show, Underwood experienced a emotional breaking point that yielded one of the most famous moments in franchise history. Refusing to continue the process without her, he scaled a high production fence and bolted into the Portuguese countryside, evading camera crews for hours.
- The Stunt Value: The fence jump earned an MTV Movie & TV Award for Most Meme-able Moment, instantly cementing the season in internet culture.
- The Narrative Shift: Rather than following traditional format rules where leads explore multiple relationships until the final rose, Underwood broke protocol to pursue one specific contestant outside standard boundaries.
- The Aftermath: He and Randolph left the show as a couple, though they split up less than two years later, leading to intense public scrutiny and legal fallout regarding restraining orders that were later dropped.
Shifting Narratives and Public Transformation
The years following his time as The Bachelor lead brought profound personal changes. In April 2021, Underwood appeared on Good Morning America to publicly come out as gay, acknowledging that he had struggled with his sexuality during his time on television and while playing professional sports.
This revelation was documented in a six-part Netflix docuseries titled Coming Out Colton, which tracked his conversations with family, faith communities, and former sports figures. While the series received mixed critical reviews regarding how it handled the intersection of his privilege and personal journey, it marked a definitive break from his past reality television persona.
- Media Reception: Outlets like the Los Angeles Times covered the complex public reactions, balancing discussions of his past actions with the realities of coming out in hyper-masculine spaces like professional football.
- Reinventing Stardom: Transitioning away from the "heartthrob" archetype required rebuilding his public profile entirely around advocacy, personal growth, and authentic identity.
- Ongoing Media Presence: Unlike many franchise alumni who fade into obscurity, Underwood maintained a presence across various television platforms, competing on reality competitions and eventually returning to dating formats as a host.
Life Beyond the Franchise: Marriage and Modern Media
Today, Underwood's life looks vastly different from the romantic chaos of network television. He married political strategist Jordan C. Brown in May 2023, and the couple welcomed their first child via surrogate in September 2024.
His career has similarly evolved. Rather than stepping away from unscripted media entirely, he embraced new roles within the genre. He competed on reality competition series like Beyond the Edge and The Masked Singer (appearing as the "Lovebird"), and later transitioned to hosting duties, such as co-hosting Hulu's virgin-dating reality series Are You My First? alongside Kaitlyn Bristowe. He also joined the cast of The Traitors, demonstrating an ability to pivot from romantic lead to strategic game player.
Articles and retrospectives from entertainment trackers, such as Us Weekly, frequently highlight how former reality stars navigate post-show life. For Underwood, that journey involved moving away from Los Angeles, establishing a quieter family foundation, and selecting television projects that align with his current life stage rather than his past archetypes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Colton Underwood on The Bachelor?
Colton Underwood starred as the lead on season 23 of The Bachelor, which aired in early 2019. Prior to that, he competed on season 14 of The Bachelorette in 2018 and season five of Bachelor in Paradise.
Who is Colton Underwood married to?
Colton Underwood married political strategist Jordan C. Brown on May 13, 2023. They welcomed their first child, a son named Bishop, via surrogate in September 2024.
Did Colton Underwood play in the NFL?
Yes. After playing college football at Illinois State University, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the San Diego Chargers in 2014 and subsequently spent time on the practice squads for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders before retiring from football due to injuries.
What is Coming Out Colton?
Coming Out Colton is a six-part documentary series released on Netflix in December 2021. The show follows his personal journey of coming out to his family, friends, and the public, alongside exploring his relationship with faith and the LGBTQ+ community.
