Jesse Palmer is crediting his stint as The Bachelor's fifth-season star for helping him as a college football analyst and landing him a job at ESPN.
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"In a funny way, I think it really helped me in terms of broadcasting," he told USA Today in a Thursday report. "It really helped making me comfortable on camera and reaching a different audience. And the people at ESPN viewed it as a positive."
ESPN hired the former NFL quarterback as an analyst for its College Football Live and ESPN2's Saturday studio show prior to last fall's college football season.
Palmer will have a new role for the upcoming season -- working as Doug Flutie's replacement on ESPN's Thursday night games alongside play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler and analyst Craig James, USA Today reported.
The 29-year-old former quarterback -- who played his days of college ball at the University of Florida -- had stints with the NFL's New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers, as well as more recently with the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes.
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In May 2007 he decided to put an end to his football playing days to pursue a broadcasting career.
Since his professional football career was as a backup, Palmer is presumably still better well-known for serving as the object of affection during The Bachelor's Spring 2004 fifth season.
Palmer presented his final rose to Jessica Bowlin during the May 2004 finale -- but instead of proposing he opted to present her with a one-way ticket to join him in New York. It probably should have been a round trip ticket since the couple announced a mutual break-up not even a month after The Bachelor's finale aired.
Still single, Palmer said he has no regrets about The Bachelor.
"It certainly changed my life," he told USA Today. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. And ironically enough, I think when I was getting ready for a career after football, it really helped."
About The Author: Christopher Rocchio