Mel Owens is a rare example of someone who successfully reinvented himself after life in professional sports. Once a fierce linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams, Owens has built an impressive second career as a lawyer specializing in workers’ compensation for professional athletes. With an estimated net worth of $2 million in 2025, Owens’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and new beginnings. At 66 years old, he continues to make headlines—this time as the lead of ABC’s hit reality dating show, The Golden Bachelor.
Early Life and Education
Mel Owens was born on December 7, 1958, in Detroit, Michigan, where his passion for football developed early. Growing up in a working-class family, Owens showed athletic potential long before his high school years. His dedication on the field earned him a place at the University of Michigan, where he played for the Wolverines under legendary coach Bo Schembechler.
At Michigan, Owens became known for his speed, power, and leadership as a linebacker. His collegiate success caught the attention of NFL scouts, setting the stage for a professional career that would soon make him one of the top defensive prospects of his generation.
NFL Career with the Los Angeles Rams
In the 1981 NFL Draft, Mel Owens was selected by the Los Angeles Rams as the ninth overall pick, a clear sign of the team’s confidence in his defensive abilities. From 1981 to 1990, he anchored the Rams’ defense as a reliable and versatile linebacker during one of the team’s most competitive decades in the NFC West.
Across his ten-season NFL career, Owens recorded 26 sacks and four interceptions, earning a reputation for his aggressive tackling and football intelligence. He played alongside standout defenders during a golden era for the Rams, helping the team stay competitive in one of football’s toughest divisions.
While Owens never won a Super Bowl, his consistency and durability made him a fan favorite and a respected name among his peers. His career also gave him an intimate understanding of the toll professional football takes on an athlete’s body—a perspective that would later shape his second career in law.
NFL Earnings and Financial Background
During the 1980s, NFL salaries were modest compared to today’s massive contracts. The average salary during Owens’s playing years hovered around $160,000 per season, and by 1991, his salary was reportedly $300,000. Over nine full seasons, Owens’s total earnings from football are estimated to have been between $1.5 million and $2.5 million.
Unlike many athletes who struggle financially after retirement, Owens managed his money wisely, later expanding his wealth through his legal career. Today, with a net worth of $2 million, he continues to earn from his Orange County law practice and public appearances, including his newfound television fame.
Transition from Athlete to Attorney
After hanging up his cleats in 1990, Owens sought a purposeful career that would keep him connected to sports while helping others. Recognizing the long-term challenges faced by athletes dealing with injuries and post-retirement health issues, he pursued a legal education and became a licensed attorney in California.
Owens established his law practice in Orange County, focusing on workers’ compensation cases—particularly representing former professional athletes. His firsthand understanding of physical injuries, recovery, and the psychological toll of retirement has made him one of the most empathetic advocates for clients in the sports community.
His firm has represented numerous retired players from the NFL and other sports leagues, helping them secure medical and financial support for injuries sustained during their careers. Owens’s work has been praised for bridging the gap between the athletic world and the often complex legal system.
Through this second career, he not only rebuilt his professional identity but also cemented his role as a champion for player welfare and fair compensation.
Personal Life and Family
Off the field and away from the courtroom, Mel Owens has led a life filled with both triumphs and challenges. He is a father of two sons from his first marriage, a relationship that ended several years ago. Owens has spoken about how his family and personal losses, including the death of his father, have deeply shaped his outlook on life and love.
Now in his mid-60s, Owens has found himself back in the public spotlight for a completely different reason—romance.
The Golden Bachelor and a New Chapter
In 2025, ABC announced that Mel Owens would be the new lead for the second season of The Golden Bachelor, the senior spin-off of the beloved Bachelor franchise. At 66, Owens follows in the footsteps of the first Golden Bachelor, Gerry Turner, bringing his own charisma and life experience to the show.
The decision to cast Owens came as a surprise to some, but his combination of athletic fame, professional success, and emotional maturity makes him a natural fit for the role. The show gives him a chance to share a side of himself the public hasn’t seen—one focused on vulnerability, love, and personal growth.
For Owens, this journey represents not only a search for romance but also a celebration of reinvention. As someone who has rebuilt his life multiple times, from athlete to lawyer to television personality, he embodies the idea that it’s never too late for new beginnings.
Legacy and Public Perception
Mel Owens’s story is one of transformation. His NFL career earned him respect as a disciplined and physical competitor, while his legal career established him as a thoughtful advocate for injured athletes. Now, as a television personality, he continues to inspire a new generation by showing that life after sports—or any major chapter—can still be filled with purpose and excitement.
Owens’s $2 million net worth reflects not just financial stability but also the success of a man who mastered multiple careers across vastly different worlds. Whether representing clients in court or stepping into the spotlight on The Golden Bachelor, he has remained authentic, grounded, and driven by a sense of purpose.
Final Thoughts
From the roaring crowds of NFL stadiums to the quiet focus of a courtroom and now the emotional spotlight of reality television, Mel Owens’s journey is a testament to resilience and reinvention. His career proves that success doesn’t have to be one-dimensional—it can evolve, adapt, and flourish across decades.
At 66, Mel Owens continues to live a life that inspires—showing that whether it’s love, career, or personal growth, the best chapters can still lie ahead.