Entertainment TV All About 'The Bachelor' Host Jesse Palmer Jesse Palmer previously played in the NFL and CFL, owns an adorable dog and, like many of us, has an obsessive love of chocolate By Skyler Caruso Skyler Caruso Skyler Caruso is a Writer and Reporter of PEOPLE Digital Entertainment. She joined PEOPLE in 2021, but has eight years of experience working in digital publishing with a focus on entertainment and pop culture news. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 5, 2023 06:12AM EDT Photo: Byron Cohen/ABC Jesse Palmer has been looking good as Bachelor Nation's host! The former star of The Bachelor returned to the franchise in 2021 — but instead of looking for love, he guided 31 contestants on their romantic journey to win over season 26 star Clayton Echard. Having previously been named the Bachelor himself in 2004, Palmer was well-suited to serve as Echard's mentor. Based on his past experiences and lessons learned, Palmer hoped to help Echard in the love-finding process. "Falling in love is one of life's greatest gifts, and I am humbled by the opportunity to return to the show as host this season to offer the newest Bachelor advice gained from firsthand experience and I am grateful to play a small part in his journey," Palmer told Variety in a statement in September 2021. John Fleenor/ABC Bachelor Clayton Echard Admits His Journey to Find Love 'Wasn't Perfect' But 'I Followed My Heart' While Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe served as co-hosts during Katie Thurston and Michelle Young's seasons of The Bachelorette, Palmer has been filling the shoes of longtime host Chris Harrison, who left the show in February 2021. Palmer's no stranger to hosting, as he’s hosted various television shows, including ABC's 2021 summer series The Ultimate Surfer and the network's 2018 reality show The Proposal. Jesse Palmer/instagram Palmer has also held numerous gigs outside of hosting reality TV shows. As a former professional football quarterback, he's served as a television broadcaster, football commentator and as an analyst for ESPN since 2007. What else is there to know about the Bachelor host? Here are some more fun facts about Palmer — from his time in the NFL to his love of food (and all things chocolate!). He played football for two teams in the NFL Michael Zagaris/Getty Palmer played five seasons for the NFL's New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers in the early 2000s, according to ESPN. The Bachelor-turned-host also made history in 2004 as the first professional athlete to nab the lead on The Bachelor. Since then, other professional athletes have followed in Palmer's Bachelor footsteps, including two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk Jr. (season 22) and former San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders football player Colton Underwood (season 23). He also played for the Canadian Football League (CFL), like his dad Jesse Palmer/instagram Palmer was born in Toronto but grew up in Nepean, Ontario, a suburb of Ottawa in Canada. His parents, Bill and Susan, were constant support systems throughout his life. Similar to the athletic past of his dad, who played for the Ottawa Rough Riders, Palmer was signed by the CFL's Montreal Alouettes in 2006 following his brief NFL stint. His mother was a fashion model and former owner of Ottawa's ITM International Top Models (currently known as Models International Management). He chose Jessica Bowlin on his season of The Bachelor Craig Sjodin/getty During The Bachelor's fifth season in 2004, Palmer chose Jessica Bowlin at the end of his romantic run — but it did not end in a proposal. Though the two left the show as a couple, they split just one month after the finale aired, lasting only four months together. "Jessica and I shared an incredible romantic journey on the show that began with a friendship that remains strong today," the former football player told Extra in a statement at the time. "We simply realized that, individually, our next steps take us in different directions." Palmer married model Emely Fardo Jesse Palmer/Instagram Palmer and model Emely Fardo — who celebrated their engagement in Paris in July 2019 — tied the knot on June 5, 2020. The couple kept their ceremony intimate, marrying at a friend's house in Connecticut. As PEOPLE previously reported, their initial plan to wed in France was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The married couple, who began dating in 2017, told PEOPLE at the time, "Big or small, wedding party or not, we feel so grateful and lucky to have found each other!" Palmer considers himself a foodie Jesse Palmer/instagram Like many of us, Palmer can't resist some good grub! "I can listen to people talk about food all day long. I always have the TV on Food Network when I'm at home constantly," he told Food Network Canada. "I have a huge desire for chocolate, anything chocolate," he shared with the network. In addition to enjoying food often featured on the shows, Palmer has also held hosting gigs at Food Network, including 2014's Food Truck Face Off, 2020's Bakeaway Camp with Martha Stewart and several seasons of Holiday Baking Championship. He has a dog named LouLou Jesse Palmer/instagram In October 2020, Palmer and Fardo adopted an Aussiedoodle puppy named LouLou. A mix of Australian shepherd and poodle, LouLou loves the spotlight — and even has her own Instagram page! LouLou has also made appearances on Palmer's Instagram, with the Bachelor host frequently documenting his pup's adorable face and their daily shenanigans. "What is LouLou thinking here?! 😆 #IfYouNeedHelpBlinkTwice," he jokingly captioned a shot of him holding LouLou in his arms in December 2021.