Colton Scott Brown-Underwood (né Underwood; born January 26, 1992)[1] is an American reality television personality and former professional football player.

He played defensive end at Illinois State and was signed by the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2014, and was on the practice squads of the Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles.

[8][9] Colton Underwood graduated from Illinois State University, where he followed his father's footsteps to play college football for the Redbirds.

[18] After being linked to fellow contestant Tia Booth, Underwood broke up with her, and both left Paradise separately in the fourth week.

[22] On September 21, 2018, ABC announced that Colton had started filming The Bachelor and had already met three of his contestants on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

[25][26] In the series, he meets with other openly gay public figures, including Gus Kenworthy, Michael Sam, and CMT host Cody Alan.

[30] In January 2016, Brown-Underwood founded the Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation to raise money for cystic fibrosis research and medical equipment.

[31][33] In January 2018, the foundation began the Legacy Project, with the goal of delivering AffloVests, chest wall oscillation devices which clear excess mucus from lung airways as part of the daily treatment for cystic fibrosis, to children in 50 US states.

[36][37] Brown-Underwood has spoken publicly about his choice to remain a virgin, and how appearing on The Bachelorette helped him discuss the topic.

[40][41] In September 2020, Randolph filed a restraining order against Underwood,[42] alleging that he stalked her outside her Los Angeles apartment and her parents' Huntington Beach house, sent harassing text messages using an anonymous number, and installed a tracking device underneath her car.

[59][60] On May 21, 2024, it was announced in an interview with Men's Health magazine that Underwood and his husband were expecting a boy, due in October 2024.