Bachelorette' Winner Jordan Rodgers Joins ESPN

Jordan Rodgers is having an eventful week.

Just one day after he was named the Season 12 winner of “The Bachelorette,” it was announced that the ABC reality star is staying in the Disney family and joining ESPN.

The former Vanderbilt quarterback (pictured above right with Dari Nowkhah) will provide college football commentary as a studio analyst for the SEC Network, which is devoted to coverage of the Southeastern Conference.

Also Read: 'The Bachelorette' Season 12 Finale: JoJo Fletcher Hands Out Her Final Rose (Video)

Along with being the younger brother of Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, the 27-year-old played at Vanderbilt from 2010-2012 and was the first quarterback in team history to make back-to-back postseason bowl appearances.

“I’ve devoted my life to football,” Rodgers said. “I was never the most talented player on the field. I had to work hard for it and sharing those experiences and that knowledge is my new focus.”

“We began planning for the upcoming college football season in February and Jordan was one of our first calls,” ESPN Senior Vice President Stephanie Druley said in a statement Tuesday. “He had a unique perspective as a quarterback at Vanderbilt University and we were immediately impressed with his intelligence and passion for the game.”

Druley went on to explain that they began considering Rodgers for the job long before he became the prime focus of JoJo Fletcher’s affection on the hit dating show.

Also Read: 'Bachelorette' JoJo Fletcher on Chad's Violent Episode: 'It Scares Me'

“We first interviewed Jordan in March and he auditioned in May, before ‘The Bachelorette’ had begun airing,” she said. “We were struck by the clarity of his thought and strong, thoughtful opinion on the many layers of college football.”

Rodgers beat out romantic rival Robby Hayes to earn Fletcher’s final rose on Monday’s finale, and then dropped down on one knee to propose.

Along with now wedding planning with his new fiancee, his first day on the job will be Aug. 23 on SEC Network’s sports news and information show “SEC Now.”

Also Read: ESPN's Max Kellerman on Why He's No Skip Bayless (Exclusive)

“I’ve spent the summer studying in preparation for the football season,” Rodgers said about preparing for his new gig. “Part of the job is based on personal experience, but knowing the rosters, stats and dynamics of 14 teams and their opponents every week is the work aspect.”

He follows the path forged by ESPN analyst Jesse Palmer, who played quarterback for the University of Florida and the NFL’s New York Giants before starring on Season 5 of “The Bachelor” and eventually joining ESPN in 2007.

Rodgers joins a studio talent lineup that includes Heisman winner Tim Tebow, two-time Super Bowl champion Booger McFarland, national championship-winning quarterback Greg McElroy, national championship-winning lineman at LSU and Dallas Cowboy Marcus Spears, as well as hosts Dari Nowkhah, Peter Burns, Laura Rutledge and Paul Finebaum.

11 Biggest 'Bachelorette' Villains You Love to Hate (Photos)

Here are the biggest villains from previous seasons of "The Bachelorette."
ABC
Chad Johnson, Season 12
We're only in Week 2 of the current season, but Chad has already established himself as the villain. He's aggressive, doesn't care about the other men in the house, and in last week's episode, he called JoJo "naggy." He also ended a toast with, "F--- you guys, I’m gonna make her my wife.” Classy.
ABC
JJ Lane, Season 11
Well, for starters, he coined the phrase, "villains gotta vill" with Clint Arlis. He became the most hated man in the house when he stole Kaitlyn Bristowe away from the other men, although he had already secured a rose. Then, there's this lovely quote: "More than anything I’m feeling just smugness wrapped inside of cockiness wrapped inside of confidence wrapped inside ‘I just talked to the girl and you didn’t.'" That's the dating version of a Thanksgiving turducken.
ABC
Ian Thompson, Season 11
Thompson famously blasted Kaitlyn Bristowe for being "shallow," when he was clearly so full of himself. He left the show by saying, "I need to have sex." Good luck with that.
ABC
Kalon McMahon, Season 8
He called Emily Maynard's daughter "baggage." The moment wasn't caught on camera, but other contestants let Maynard know and McMahon was promptly sent home. He is not winning the Stepdad of the Year Award.
ABC
Justin Rego, Season 7
This guy also had a girlfriend back home when he tried to fight for Ali Fedotowsky's heart, but he literally ran away when she tried to confront him about it.
ABC
Joe Bailey, Season 11
He didn't really spark controversy during his time on "The Bachelorette," but what he pulled on "Bachelor in Paradise" is worth mentioning. He famously dumped single-mom Juelia Kinney to stay in the competition for Samantha Steffen, with whom he had talked to before the show and told her he would do anything to stay until she arrived.
ABC
Juan Pablo Galavis, Season 9
Galavis was considered the hottie of Desiree Hartsock's season and didn't make bad headlines until he became the "The Bachelor." He stunned the world during his overnight date with Andi Dorfman, where she accused him of only talking about himself, not wanting to learn more about her, and boasting about his overnight date with Clare Crawley. And she told him she would "die" if she heard him say "it's OK" one more time.
ABC
Ben Scott, Season 9
Ben started his war against other contestants vying for the heart of Desiree Hartsock during the premiere when he brought his son to the cocktail party. Then, he would often swoop in on other people's one-on-one time. After he was eliminated, his true colors came out when he asked the producers on camera when he could be seen out with other women.
ABC
Wes Hayden, Season 5
This guy was famous for saying he was the "first guy on 'The Bachelorette' to ever make it to the Top 4 with a girlfriend.” Indeed, he was accused of only coming onto the show to promote his music while his girlfriend stayed at home.
ABC
Dave Good, Season 5
He didn't have a girlfriend at home and didn't diss Jillian Harris, but instead he drank a lot and became increasingly aggressive, especially towards fellow contestant Juan Barbieri.
ABC
Nick Viall, Season 11
After he blasted Andi Dorfman during "After the Final Rose" for sleeping with him (that's just not something you talk about), he begged to come onto Kaitlyn Bristowe's season midway through, much to the anger of other contestants.
ABC

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Chad Johnson has already been established as the Season 12 villain, but these former contestants on ABC’s dating show have set a very low bar for bad behavior

Here are the biggest villains from previous seasons of "The Bachelorette."

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11 Biggest 'Bachelorette' Villains You Love to Hate (Photos)

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