Sam Hartman has yet to appear in an NFL regular-season game, but the Washington Commanders quarterback is preparing for a very different kind of spotlight. ABC named the 27-year-old the lead of Season 30 of *The Bachelor* on November 13, while he was still on Washington’s practice squad.
Hartman signed with the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Now, instead of competing for playing time, he will meet 30 potential partners on national television. The unexpected casting has also brought attention to an unusual personal keepsake: a necklace made with a piece of his own rib.
ESPN analyst Mina Kimes was asked about the necklace during a discussion about Hartman’s upcoming season. The question was whether wearing a necklace made from a rib was a red flag or a green flag.
“It’s a little weird, I don’t know. It’s like a bone necklace? That’s strange,” Kimes said.
She stopped short of labeling it a red flag, but her reaction made clear that she did not consider it an obvious green flag, either.
## Why Sam Hartman wears a rib-bone necklace
The necklace has a personal history connected to a serious health challenge. In August 2022, Hartman was diagnosed with Paget-Schroetter syndrome after a blood clot developed in his subclavian vein, near his collarbone.
His treatment included removing the clot and undergoing surgery to relieve pressure on the affected blood vessel. The procedure required doctors to remove his first rib. Hartman later asked whether he could keep the bone.
The medical setback briefly put his football future in doubt. But Hartman returned to the practice field in less than a month. He missed Wake Forest’s season opener, then made his season debut on September 10, 2022. That November, he received the ACC’s Brian Piccolo Award, which recognizes courage in overcoming adversity.
After Hartman transferred to Notre Dame in January 2023, his mother, Lisa, cleaned the removed rib and turned it into a necklace decorated with puka shells. He wore it publicly before the Fighting Irish opened their season against Navy in Dublin in August 2023.
Hartman completed his final college season at Notre Dame that year. He finished his collegiate career with 134 touchdown passes, an ACC record.
## Kimes discusses football drills and dating
Kimes’ comments about the necklace came during a broader conversation about Hartman’s plans for *The Bachelor*. During an appearance on *Good Morning America*, Hartman said he would put contestants through competitive drills. Kimes was asked which drill she believed offered the best indication of a football player’s ability.
“Well, I’m partial to the three-cone. I think it’s the best indicator because it shows you agility and game speeds,” she said.
She also noted that physical tests may not be the most useful way to assess someone as a potential partner. Kimes pointed to psychological testing at the NFL Combine as a potentially more relevant comparison.
“They do, at the Combine, it’s not a physical drill, but I know they do a lot of like, psychological type testing now, and that probably is a little bit more pertinent to finding a partner,” she added.
Hartman has acknowledged that navigating the dating side of the show may be unfamiliar territory. He joked that keeping up conversations with 30 contestants could be more difficult than talking with one person.
“I have a tough time holding conversation with one girl. 30 is going to be pretty tough,” Hartman said.
## When does *The Bachelor* Season 30 premiere?
Season 30 of *The Bachelor* is scheduled to premiere on ABC on March 21, 2027. Episodes are set to stream on Hulu the following day.
For Hartman, the challenge will be a sharp change from the football field. Rather than reading a defense across the line of scrimmage, he will be meeting 30 potential partners—and, judging by Kimes’ reaction, explaining the story behind his distinctive necklace may be part of the conversation.
