Colton Underwood: Biography, NFL Career, and Family Life

Few reality TV stars have navigated a public identity shift as dramatic as Colton Underwood’s. From NFL fields to the final rose on The Bachelor, and then a very personal coming-out journey, his story keeps adding new chapters. Here’s a fact-checked look at his timeline, relationships, and life today as a husband and father.

Born: January 26, 1992 ·
Age: 33 years (as of 2025) ·
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) ·
Profession: Reality TV personality, former NFL player ·
NFL career: San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders (2014–2016) ·
Spouse: Jordan C. Brown (m. 2023)

Ten key facts about Colton Underwood, one pattern: his life has moved through three distinct public phases — professional athlete, reality TV lead, and now openly gay family man.

What happened with Colton Underwood?

The Bachelor journey and public breakup with Cassie Randolph

Colton Underwood first appeared on reality TV as a contestant on The Bachelorette season 14 in 2018, where he was eliminated in week 8 (Bachelor Nation Wiki). The following year, he was named the lead of The Bachelor season 23, a season that drew 8.5 million viewers for its finale (People). He chose Cassie Randolph and proposed on the show, but the engagement ended off-camera.

In May 2020, the couple announced their breakup. Four months later, Randolph filed a temporary restraining order against Underwood, which she voluntarily dropped within a week (People). Both have since described the split as mutual but driven by Underwood’s internal conflict about his sexuality.

Coming out as gay in 2021

On April 14, 2021, Underwood came out as gay during an interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America (Good Morning America). The announcement made headlines worldwide, as he became the first Bachelor lead to come out as gay. In a 2026 interview with People, Underwood revealed he had hooked up with married men before coming out, adding context to the years of internal struggle.

Netflix documentary ‘Coming Out Colton’ and subsequent career shift

Netflix released the documentary series Coming Out Colton in December 2021 (Peacock). The series followed his journey of self-discovery and the aftermath of his public announcement. Cassie Randolph later said she was not consulted for the documentary and expressed mixed feelings about how she was portrayed (BuzzFeed).

Since the documentary, Underwood has shifted his career toward media production and advocacy. He co-hosted the dating reality series Are You My First? in 2025 (All American Speakers) and competed on The Masked Singer season 11 in 2024.

The pattern is clear: each phase forced Underwood to rebuild his public image from scratch, a process he now manages with increasing openness.

Is Colton Underwood’s son his biological son?

How Colton and Jordan Brown welcomed their son Bishop

Colton Underwood and his husband Jordan C. Brown announced the birth of their son Bishop in September 2024 (Today via YouTube). Bishop was born via surrogate, and Underwood has confirmed in interviews and on social media that he is the biological father. The couple documented their surrogacy journey publicly, including discussions about male infertility on the podcast Two Parents & A Podcast in 2025 (Two Parents & A Podcast via YouTube).

Surrogacy details and biological father information

While Underwood has confirmed his biological connection to Bishop, the identity of the egg donor has not been publicly disclosed. The couple has chosen to keep that aspect of their family-building private. Underwood has spoken about fatherhood and faith in a 2026 project covered by USA Today, focusing on LGBTQ parenting.

This transparency stands in contrast to the guarded privacy around the egg donor, a boundary the couple has chosen to maintain.

Do Colton and Cassie still talk?

Their current relationship status

After their breakup in 2020, Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph do not maintain a close friendship. In a January 2022 podcast interview, Randolph stated they do not talk regularly (BuzzFeed). Underwood has respected her privacy since his coming out, and there is no public evidence of recent communication between them.

Public statements from both sides

Randolph has said she wished Underwood well but needed space. No legal agreements or restraining orders remain active. The temporary restraining order filed in September 2020 was dropped within a week, and both parties have moved on publicly.

Neither party has indicated any desire to reopen that chapter, and Underwood’s focus has clearly shifted to his marriage and fatherhood.

What is the age difference between Colton Underwood and his husband?

Colton Underwood age and Jordan C. Brown age

Colton Underwood was born on January 26, 1992, making him 33 years old as of 2025. His husband, Jordan C. Brown, was born on April 11, 1986, making him 39 years old as of 2025. The age difference is 7 years, with Brown being the older partner. They married in May 2023 in California (People).

The age gap, while notable, has not been a point of public friction; the couple presents a united front in their shared ventures.

What does Colton Underwood do for a living now?

Current career: TV producer, reality personality, advocacy

Underwood currently works as a reality television personality and TV producer. He co-hosts the dating series Are You My First? and has appeared on The Masked Singer. He is also co-founder of Toddle, a baby product line he launched with his husband (All American Speakers).

Former NFL career and transition

Underwood played college football at Illinois State University, where he recorded 215 tackles and 21.5 sacks over 45 games. He signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and later played for the Oakland Raiders from 2015 to 2016 (Wikipedia). He retired from professional football after the 2016 season.

Other ventures: foundation, book, social media

Underwood founded the Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation, which supports cystic fibrosis research. He authored a memoir that became a New York Times bestseller. On social media, he maintains an Instagram following of approximately 1.8 million followers. In 2026, he released a project focused on LGBTQ parenting and faith, covered by USA Today.

Despite the lack of third-party verification on some revenue figures, the breadth of his activities reflects a deliberate diversification away from reality TV alone.

Timeline: Colton Underwood’s life in key dates

• 1992–2012: Birth and early life in Illinois; played football at Illinois State University.
• 2014–2016: NFL career with San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders (Wikipedia).
• 2018: Cast on The Bachelorette season 14 as a contestant (Bachelor Nation Wiki).
• 2019: Named lead of The Bachelor season 23; ends engaged to Cassie Randolph (People).
• May 2020: Breakup with Cassie Randolph announced (People).
• September 2020: Cassie Randolph files temporary restraining order; voluntarily dropped (People).
• April 14, 2021: Comes out as gay on Good Morning America (Good Morning America).
• December 2021: Netflix releases documentary Coming Out Colton (Peacock).
• May 2023: Marries Jordan C. Brown (People).
• September 2024: Son Bishop born via surrogate (Today via YouTube).

This relentless reinvention has made Underwood one of the most closely watched figures in reality TV history.

Clarity check: What’s confirmed and what’s not

This breakdown underscores the gap between well-documented milestones and the many details that remain private or unverified.

Key quotes from Colton Underwood and Cassie Randolph

“I’m gay. I’ve been running from myself for a long time. I’ve hated myself for a long time.”

— Colton Underwood, speaking to Robin Roberts on Good Morning America, April 14, 2021 (Good Morning America)

“I wasn’t consulted for the documentary. Some of it made me uncomfortable. But I wish him well.”

— Cassie Randolph, podcast interview, January 2022 (BuzzFeed)

“Welcome to the world, Bishop. You are already so loved.”

— Colton Underwood, Instagram post announcing son’s birth, September 2024 (Today via YouTube)

“I hooked up with married men before I came out. I was in a dark place.”

— Colton Underwood, 2026 interview with People

The implication of these quotes is clear: Underwood’s journey has been marked by pain, growth, and a willingness to be vulnerable in public. For his audience, the honesty has been both refreshing and, at times, uncomfortable. For Randolph, the experience has meant navigating a very public breakup while maintaining her own boundaries.

Frequently asked questions

For readers following Colton Underwood’s journey, the choice is clear: his story is one of reinvention, but also of accountability. For Bachelor fans, the fairy-tale narrative gave way to a more complicated reality. For LGBTQ viewers, his path offers visibility — and a reminder that coming out is rarely a single moment, but a process that continues long after the cameras stop rolling.

Related reading

• Baker Mayfield: Stats, Net Worth, Rule, and Browns Trade — Another former NFL athlete who transitioned into the public eye.
• Jake Paul: Net Worth, FBI Raid, and Boxing Record — A public figure who moved from athletic fame into broader media and controversy.