Former NFL pro Jesse Palmer says hosting “The Bachelor” franchise is like playing quarterback.
“You’re just trying to avoid the drama at all times,” the ex-Giant told The Post. “It’s like trying not to get sacked.”
On Sunday, instead of watching his former team’s season opener, Palmer, 43, will be traveling to Los Angeles to shoot the live two-part “Bachelorette” Season 19 finale airing Sept. 13 and 20 on ABC.
The Canadian native was hired as the franchise’s host in 2021 after Chris Harrison, who was at the helm since “The Bachelor” premiered in 2002, stepped down in controversy after he defended a “Bachelor” contestant pictured at an Antebellum-themed college party.
In 2004, when Palmer became the first professional athlete to star as “The Bachelor,” which was still a new TV concept, he gave his teammates the play-by-play.
“As you can imagine, we had a lot of fun with that,” said Palmer, who also works as a college football analyst for ESPN.
Jesse Palmer admits there is a lot more drama in ‘The Bachelor’ than being an NFL quarterback.Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images
Jesse Palmer and his wife, Emely Fardo Palmer.@emelyfardopalmerThe popular franchise keeps bringing football players back to star as leading men and contestants and he understands why.
“I think football players have a lot of personality. I think they feel comfortable in their own skin,” he said.
And like Bachelor Mansion, an NFL locker room can be a powder keg of emotion.
Jesse Palmer met his wife, Emely Fardo, at a boxing class in Chelsea.@jessepalmer
Jesse Palmer was a top-rated quarterback for the New York Giants before Eli Manning came around.Anthony J Causi
Jesse Palmer was a contestant on ‘The Bachelor’ in 2004.© 2004 ABC, INC.“You can’t even imagine how much drama there is,” he said.
Although he did not find lasting love on national TV, he did discover it over a decade later in Manhattan — marrying Brazilian model Emely Fardo in 2020. He first laid eyes on her in a boxing class at Rumble on West 23rd Street in Chelsea.
“I was trying to talk to her the day I met her, but I missed my chance and then she liked a photo of mine on social media … and then I technically made the first move and direct messaged her,” he said. “But she didn’t answer me back for 10 days; she slow played me.”
Jesse Palmer with ‘The Bachelorette’ stars Rachel Recchia and Gabby Windey.ABC via Getty Images
Jesse Palmer married Brazilian model Emely Fardo in 2020.Instagram
Jesse Palmer was the first professional athlete to star in ‘The Bachelor.”© 2004 ABC, INC.
Jesse Palmer is also a college football analyst for ESPN.John Medland/ABC via Getty Images The couple, who just moved to Miami Beach with their Aussie Doodle Mademoseille Loulou Palmer, “would love to have children” and have been talking about “potentially getting another dog.”
When asked if he would want his kids to be on the dating franchise or play football, Palmer said, “I’d have to ask the boss. I’m super open to everything. I’d be down for both, but I don’t know what the boss would say.”
