Mel Owens is no stranger to the spotlight.
The reality television star has basked in it throughout his professional career, finding success across a host of different apparatuses. From the courtroom to the cameras, Owens has been a star. His placement on "The Golden Bachelor" simply serves to introduce him to the masses — and maybe find some love along the way.
Owens landed the highly coveted title of Golden Bachelor ahead of the second season of the show. His romantic exploits will be on full display across ABC airwaves. It isn't the first time the network has hosted him, either — although his last appearances came nearly 40 years ago.
Owens isn't simply a successful businessman and lawyer. He's also a former NFL player, joining Jesse Palmer as a former NFL talent to be swept up underneath The Bachelor's banner.
With that, here's what you need to know about Owens' NFL exploits.
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Who did Mel Owens play for?
Owens enjoyed a nine-year NFL career. He spent his entire spell in the pros with the Los Angeles Rams, garnering praise for his dogged tackling and ability to get to the quarterback.
Selected ninth overall in the 1981 draft after a glistening four-year stint at Michigan, Owens emerged as a starter in his third season. From 1983-1987, Owens started every non-strike match, taking his place in an impressive Los Angeles front seven that included Pro Football Hall of Famer Jack Youngblood.
Owens tallied a career-high nine sacks in 1985. He drew All-Pro consideration at his pinnacle, helping anchor a Rams defense that ranked among the NFL's best.
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Mel Owens NFL career timeline
Owens played sparingly across his first two seasons in the league. In 1983, Los Angeles switched to a 3-4 defense. The move breathed life into Owens' career. He earned a starting nod and recorded four sacks and two fumble recoveries across 16 games.
Over the next four seasons, Owens was steady, entrenching himself into the Rams' rearguard. All told, Los Angeles made the postseason in five straight years with Owens in its ranks. The hulking linebacker was no superstar. But he was as dependable as they come at his position, laying the groundwork for other talents like LeRoy Irvin, Jim Collins and Mike Wilcher to shine.
Owens dealt with injury troubles over his final few seasons, playing just seven games in 1988 after being felled with an ankle issue. By 1991, he was out of the league entirely, waived after missing the whole of the 1990 season with a herniated disk. He retired shortly thereafter.
How long did Mel Owens play in NFL?
Owens played nine seasons in the NFL. He was productive in most of those campaigns, amassing at least 3.5 sacks in five of the seven years he was a primary starter.
Owens' NFL career lasted from 1981-1989. It was only halted by a pair of brief player strikes and a few spells on the sideline due to injury.
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Mel Owens NFL stats
Here's a look at Owens' numbers across his nine-year career. Reminder: tackles didn't become an official NFL stat until 2001, so they aren't included here.
| Games | Interceptions | Fumble recoveries | Sacks |
| 122 | 4 | 9 | 26.5 |
What position did Mel Owens play?
Owens was a linebacker at his pomp. He got some looks at safety early in his collegiate career with the Wolverines. But legendary Michigan boss Bo Schembechler put a stop to that, moving the then-teenager into the front seven. Schembechler's move was an inspired choice; Owens made himself an indispensable part of the Wolverines' 1978 and 1981 Rose Bowl teams, landing a pair of All-Big Ten nods in the process.
Where did Mel Owens go to college?
Owens starred at Michigan, turning out for the Wolverines' famed head coach, Schembechler. He didn't play many minutes in his opening two seasons. He emerged as a starter during his redshirt junior season and led Michigan to a 10-2 record and a No. 4 finish in the AP and UPI polls as a senior. The Rams summarily selected Owens ninth overall in the 1981 draft.
Mel Owens college stats
Here's a look at Owens' numbers across his three-year career. Reminder: tackles didn't become an official NFL stat until 2001, so they aren't included here.
| Games | Interceptions |
| 33 | 3 |
Did Mel Owens get drafted?
Owens was selected ninth overall in the 1981 NFL Draft. He was the fourth linebacker taken in that year's draft, trailing Lawrence Taylor (No. 2), E.J. Junior (No. 5) and Hugh Green (No. 7).
How old is Mel Owens now?
Owens is 66 years old. He is something of a renaissance man, founding a short-lived, nationwide restaurant reservation hotline (1-800-LETS-EAT) in the 1980s and enjoying a high-profile career as an attorney after earning his JD at the University of California, Hastings. Practicing in workers' compensation, sports law, sports injuries and disability benefits, Owners came to prominence in 2013 as one of the lead attorneys in a class action lawsuit against the NHL that revolved around brain injuries.