'Bachelor' Season 26 announces Clayton Echard as its new leading man

close

Video

Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines 11/29

Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here.

The new "Bachelor" for Season 26 has finally been confirmed after months of speculation and rumors. 

On Tuesday, ABC announced that former NFL player Clayton Echard, 28,  will step into the role as the next incoming "Bachelor" looking to find love amid a new pool of roughly 30 women vying for his affection. The new season, which marks the franchise’s 20th year, will begin on Jan. 3 of 2022. 

The news comes shortly after Echard had an emotional exit from the most recent season of "The Bachelorette" after Michelle Young sent him home during their one-on-one date in last week’s episode. Wasting almost no time, the show revealed at the end of this week’s episode that fans hadn’t seen the last of Echard. 

CHRIS HARRISON RECEIVED $9M 'BACHELOR' EXIT PAYOUT: REPORT

"The Bachelorette" star Clayton Echard has been announced as the new "Bachelor."  (ABC/Craig Sjodin)

"I'm just a Midwest guy from Missouri that just wants to find love," Echard said in the first teaser for his season. "And I believe more than anything that my future wife is here."

In addition to being a former pro athlete, Echard currently works in medical sales and is working on getting his MBA in the hopes of starting his own business someday. Before that, though, he hopes to find love as the latest man to call himself "The Bachelor."

'BACHELOR' HOST CHRIS HARRISON 'STEPPING ASIDE' FOLLOWING BACKLASH OVER RACISM CONTROVERSY

Echard’s debut as the new lead of the franchise does not come as a surprise to many who have been paying attention over the last few months. Savvy fans were pretty aware that he was the guy the show had chosen even before his run on "The Bachelorette" began airing. Variety previously reported that Echard was spotted in his hometown of Missouri with a camera crew. Sources told the outlet at the time that he is indeed ABC’s next choice to be "The Bachelor."

Clayton Echard will be the new lead of "The Bachelor."  (ABC/Pamela Littky)

"I’m excited. I’m also very, very nervous," Echard told a crowd gathered at the shoot, according to Fox 2 Now. "I’m looking to find my person."

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

Meanwhile, the show wasted no time in showing off some of the 30 ladies who will be joining the franchise in Season 26 as potential soulmates for Echard. In September, the official Facebook page for "The Bachelor" revealed photos showing viewers the women who may be competing in the next season. The collection of images includes the names and hometowns of a range of ladies ranging in age from 23 to 33 who have made the cut as potential contestants. However, not every one of the 30 women will make it to night one of Season 26.

Clayton Echard is the new lead of "The Bachelor" for Season 26. (ABC/Pamela Littky)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"We are giving you an early look at the women who may be on this season of The Bachelor! Leave a [rose] for who would get your first impression rose," the caption on the post says.