Clayton Echard has commented on reports that he will be the next star of The Bachelor. As ABC and its producers prepare for season 26 of its highly successful romance reality franchise, Echard has reportedly been tapped as the lead. And it appears Echard is indeed being groomed for The Bachelor. Echard will be introduced to America as a suitor during the upcoming season of The Bachelorette, which premieres on October 19, clearly serving as a precursor to Echard stepping into the Bachelor lead role.
Echard, a former University of Missouri football star, was signed by the Seattle Seahawks in 2016 as a tight end, only to be waived shortly thereafter. Now his prospects are certainly improving. Tayshia Adam, former Bachelorette and current franchise co-host, is giving the rumored Bachelor lead Echard her stamp of approval. And Echard is certainly doing his best to keep this momentum going.
As reported by FOX 2 Now, photos were shared online of Echard with a camera crew in his hometown of Eureka, Missouri, creating speculation that he will be the Chosen One. A large banner prominently displayed in Clayton’s hometown of Eureka stated, “GO FIND LOVE CLAYTON,” which Mayor Sean Flower said was paid for by none other than ABC. And during the photo shoot, while talking to the crowd about the journey that lies ahead, Echard addressed the rumors by stating, “I’m excited. I’m also a little nervous.”
There is certainly a lot of buzz around the show with Bachelor cast members speaking out about the upcoming season. And with no further NFL opportunities on the horizon, Echard freely refers to himself as “Former freestyle rapper and washed-up athlete now trying his luck in orthopedic sales” on his Instagram page. However, that will rapidly change if Clayton lands the Bachelor gig.
Both ABC and production studio Warner Bros. declined to comment on the rumors, though. And nothing in the entertainment industry is a done deal until the ink on the contract is dry, the agents have been paid and the publicity representatives have spun up their marketing machine. However, speaking of the marketing machine, with the new season of The Bachelorette already in the can and ABC already dropping the first Bachelorette trailer for the new season, it is reasonable to assume that Echard is a rising star and the logical choice for The Bachelor.
ABC certainly has a lot riding on this next season of The Bachelor, which has spawned equally successful spin-offs, including Bachelor in Paradise and Bachelor Pad. Season 26 will be the first season of the flagship show not to be hosted by Chris Harrison, who received a big payout and departed the franchise earlier this year, so ABC must have a dynamic Bachelor to invigorate the series. Echard certainly possesses all the requirements to be starring as the new lead on The Bachelor–tall, handsome and buff–as clearly evidenced by the numerous shirtless photos of himself on social media.
Sources: Fox 2 Now, Clayton Echard/Instagram