Clayton Echard

Clayton Ray Echard (born April 29, 1993) is an American television personality best known for his appearances as a contestant on season 18 of The Bachelorette, and as the star of season 26 of The Bachelor. He played college football for Missouri and spent training camp with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL) in 2016.

Early life and education Echard was born on April 29, 1993, in Eureka, Missouri, to parents Brian and Kelly. He has two brothers, Nate and Patrick. He began playing football in the sixth grade. He was a wide receiver during his junior year at Eureka High School, weighing 170 pounds, before shifting to a defensive lineman and gaining 30 pounds for the role as a senior. He graduated from high school in 2011. Though he did not receive any scholarship offers, Echard was selected as a walk-on member of the Missouri Tigers football team at the start of his first year at the University of Missouri. At the University of Missouri, he studied health sciences and minored in Spanish and business, receiving a bachelor's degree in 2015.

Career

College and professional football Echard redshirted his freshman year and played one game during the 2012 season. At the start of the 2013 season, Echard was moved from defensive end to tight end. He played 12 games and recorded one assisted tackle.

Echard signed with the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League as a tight end in July 2016, but was cut from the team before the start of the regular season in September 2016.

Echard worked as a sales representative for Stryker Corporation, a medical device company, in 2016.

The Bachelorette

Echard first appeared as a contestant on Michelle Young's season of The Bachelorette. He was first announced as a potential contestant for the season, along with 34 other men, in July 2021. He finished in eighth place.

The Bachelor

In September 2021, Variety and other sources reported that Echard was cast as the star of season 26 of The Bachelor. Echard was officially confirmed by ABC on November 30, 2021. In the final episode, Echard chose Susie Evans, but she rejected him. It was later revealed on the live After the Final Rose special that they had since gotten back together.

Personal life Echard was in a relationship with Susie Evans from December 2021 to September 2022.

In May 2023, Laura Michelle Owens of Scottsdale, Arizona claimed to be pregnant with Clayton Echard's unborn twins. After 10 months of litigation, Judge Julie Mata granted Clayton's Petition for Non-Paternity and attorney fees. Several noteworthy news outlets have covered the ruling, including People, US Weekly, and 12 News Phoenix. Owens, the daughter of San Francisco radio host Ronn Owens, was subsequently charged by the Maricopa County district attorney with fraud, forgery, perjury, and tampering of evidence related to her false paternity claims. On August 28, 2026, Owens accepted a plea deal and pled guilty to multiple charges, including fraudulent schemes and artifices, perjury, and taking the identity of another.