Colton Underwood has become one of Bachelor Nation’s most notorious stars since he was chosen to lead The Bachelor season 23, and while his journey was one-of-a-kind in itself, his life after his appearances on ABC received even more attention. Like most other Bachelors, Colton was first introduced when he competed for Becca Kufrin’s heart on The Bachelorette season 14. Colton later appeared on Bachelor In Paradise season 8, and although he failed to leave paradise with a significant other, he was given a third shot in September 2018 when he was announced as ABC’s choice for their next season of The Bachelor.
While Colton showed some promise when The Bachelor season 23 kicked off in early 2019, it didn’t take long for longtime fans to criticize Colton’s journey. Although the then 26-year-old Colton and his ladies traveled to countries like Vietnam and Portugal (and met celebrities like Nick Offerman, Billy Eichner, and Terry Crews), it wasn’t until Colton’s now-ex-girlfriend Cassie Randolph quit at the end that viewers became fully invested. Colton may be regarded as one of the worst Bachelor leads in recent years, but he arguably has one of the most public personal lives.
Colton Underwood’s Early Life
Colton was born on January 26, 1992, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Colton and his younger brother Connor grew up in a competitive and sporty family, as their parents, Donna and Scott Underwood, were both athletes at Illinois State University. According to Players Bio, Donna was a volleyball player, while Scott was on the Illinois State Redbirds football team. While Colton’s parents are now divorced, the former Bachelor lead Colton is close with his family, especially his grandparents.
Colton Underwood’s Football Career
Before Colton was introduced on The Bachelorette, he had a short-lived career as a professional football player. After their respective graduations from Washington Community High School, Colton and his brother both played college football, although while Colton attended his parents’ alma mater, Connor enrolled at Indiana State University. Colton, who was a defensive end, was first signed as a free agent by the San Diego Chargers in May 2014, though he was released three months later. According to Pro Football Reference, Colton briefly joined the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad in late 2014, returned to the Chargers in September 2015, and was finally assigned to the Oakland Raiders practice squad in late 2015 before being waived in 2016. Colton became a member of Bachelor Nation less than two years later.
Colton Underwood’s Sexuality
Although Colton and Cassie started dating on The Bachelor ended, they announced their split in May 2020; in April 2021, Colton revealed that he was gay to Robin Roberts on Good Morning America. Right after the bombshell interview, Variety published an interview with Colton, who explained that he was forced to come out after he was blackmailed in 2019. Colton also confirmed that his ex-fiancé Cassie didn’t know he was gay. The same day, it was announced that Colton would star in a new Netflix series called, Coming Out Colton, which premiered in December 2021. While Colton was praised for his courage, some Bachelor Nation stars called Colton out and criticized the TV series as a cash grab.
Colton Underwood’s Relationships
Before he met Cassie on The Bachelor, Colton dated Olympic gymnast Aly Raisman from 2016 to 2017; according to Us Weekly, Colton professed his love for Aly after just one month and was “heartbroken” when she ended their relationship. Although they never progressed past DMs, Colton also expressed interest in Tia Booth and future Bachelorette season 16 lead Tayshia Adams. In 2021, Colton met political strategist Jordan C. Brown; the two shared pictures of each other in September 2021, although they didn’t confirm their relationship until that December 2021. Just a few months later, in February 2022, Colton announced his engagement to Jordan, and while they haven’t shared their wedding date yet, the former star of The Bachelor is expected to tie the knot by the end of 2023.
Sources: Players Bio, Pro Football Reference, Variety, Us Weekly
