Golden hours for the Golden Bachelor! The reality show is finally back; honestly, it feels like we’ve been waiting forever. Season 2 is bringing a brand-new story, and leading it is someone pretty special—Mel Owens.

Owens is 66 years young, a former NFL star who traded his helmet for a career as a lawyer. Now, he’s stepping into the spotlight, ready to take a second shot at love. Yes, the second shot! So, who was his first love interest?

Is Mel Owens married?

Mel Owens has a story that tugs at the heart. At 66, he’s worn a lot of hats: NFL star, lawyer, husband, and proud dad. He started by making waves at the University of Michigan, then went top ten in the 1981 NFL Draft to the Los Angeles Rams. After football, he built a new life in Orange County, fighting for athletes as a lawyer. That’s also where he found his first love.

After a couple of years, Mel Owens and his first love interest, whose name has not been revealed, married each other. However, after a few years, Owens faced some rough patches in his life. He dealt with his father’s loss, and coincidentally, his marriage fell apart too during that time. The couple divorced each other and since then, Owens has been living his life single.

But perhaps not anymore! Through the Golden Bachelor Season 2, per ABC, Owens is hoping to rediscover a love “rooted in the simple joys of companionship — sharing life’s everyday moments, making plans for the future and growing stronger together as a couple.” According to that press release, “as the Golden Bachelor, he’s eager to meet someone who shares this vision,” and fans really hope he finds his perfect partner.

Until then, Mel Owens has been working tirelessly for his special humans!

Does Mel Owens have kids?

From his first marriage, Mel Owens has two sons, whom he raised alone after divorce. But when his father passed and his marriage ended around the same time, life hit hard. Mel didn’t fold, though. He poured his heart into fatherhood, coaching his boys and showing up for them every single day.

During an interview in the first week of April, Owens talked about how he wanted to raise his kids. He said, “I go, this is (being completely honest and wonderful) the coaching that I want in my boys. This is gonna be a great foundation for them to go to high school. You’re around like-minded kids, and expectations are high, and the drive is high, and you gotta perform every single day. When my boys left to be here, they were ready. Both of them got D1 scholarship offers, Ohio State and Oklahoma State. The proof is in the pudding.”

So, yeah, despite having faced a lot in his personal life, Mel Owens is now a dedicated father. But if the time is right, and he finds his soulmate on the reality show, he could finally turn the page in his life, caring for himself.