Colton Underwood

Colton Scott Brown-Underwood, born on January 26, 1992, in Indianapolis, Indiana, began his career in professional sports. He played defensive end at Illinois State, following in the footsteps of his athletic parents. In 2014, he signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent, later joining the practice squads of the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders. His football career concluded in 2016.

Underwood then transitioned into reality television, first appearing on the 14th season of “The Bachelorette” in 2018. Following his elimination, he participated in “Bachelor in Paradise” season 5 before being announced as the lead for the 23rd season of “The Bachelor.” His season garnered significant attention due to his publicly discussed virginity. In 2021, Underwood publicly came out as gay on “Good Morning America,” marking a significant turning point in his public life and making him the first lead in the Bachelor franchise to do so. This led to his unscripted Netflix series, “Coming Out Colton,” which premiered in December 2021, documenting his journey and featuring discussions with other openly gay public figures. He has continued his reality TV presence, competing in “The Masked Singer” in 2024 and appearing in “The Traitors” in 2026.

Beyond entertainment, Underwood established the Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation in 2016 to support cystic fibrosis research and provide medical equipment. The foundation’s Legacy Project, launched in 2018, aimed to deliver AffloVests to children nationwide. His personal life has also involved public relationships, and he married Jordan C. Brown in 2023. In 2024, they welcomed their son, Bishop, via surrogacy. Underwood also authored the book “The First Time: Finding Myself and Looking for Love on Reality TV” in 2020.