Matt James
Born
Matthew James

(1991-12-05) December 5, 1991 (age 32)
Alma materWake Forest University
Occupation(s)Real estate broker, entrepreneur, community organization founder
American football career
No. 15, 87
Position:Wide receiver
Personal information
Born: (1991-12-05) December 5, 1991 (age 32)
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:211 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:Sanderson
(Raleigh, North Carolina)
College:Wake Forest
Undrafted:2015
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Matthew James (born December 5, 1991)[1] is an American television personality, businessman, and former NCAA football player. James is best known for being the first male African-American lead for The Bachelor in season 25.[2]

Early life and education

James was raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, the son of Manny and Patty James. Growing up, James was raised by his mother.[3] He is biracial, having a Black Nigerian father and White American mother. James identifies as black.[4] He graduated from Sanderson High School in 2010 before going to Wake Forest University.[1][5] James obtained his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Wake Forest University in 2015 where he was also a wide receiver for Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team from 2011 to 2014.[6][7]

Professional football

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 4+5⁄8 in
(1.95 m) 		211 lb
(96 kg) 		33+3⁄4 in
(0.86 m) 		9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 4.57 s 1.58 s 2.64 s 4.44 s 6.71 s 36.0 in
(0.91 m)		 10 ft 8 in
(3.25 m)		 16 reps
All values from Pro Day[8][9]

He had mini-camp tryouts with the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints of the National Football League in May and June 2015, but was not signed by either team.[10][11][12]

Career

Before moving to New York City, James worked at PNC Bank in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He works for CBRE Group, Inc., a commercial real estate company in New York City. James is also the founder of ABC Food Tours, a non-profit organization that educates children in underserved communities about food and exercise in New York City.[13][6][7]

The Bachelor

James and The Bachelorette contestant Tyler Cameron, his friend and work colleague, played football at Wake Forest University together.[14] Cameron's mother nominated James to be a contestant on The Bachelorette before she died.[15] James was originally cast to be a contestant for season 16 of The Bachelorette, starring Clare Crawley, but after filming was delayed due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was instead selected to be the next Bachelor for season 25 of The Bachelor, becoming the first male African American lead in the franchise's history.[a][16] He is the first Black Bachelor lead in the show's history.[17] The season concluded with James choosing to pursue a relationship with 24-year-old graphic designer Rachael Kirkconnell.[18]

Dancing with the Stars

In September 2021, James was announced as one of the celebrities competing on season 30 of Dancing with the Stars. He was partnered with Lindsay Arnold. They were eliminated on week 4, finishing in 12th place.[19]

Personal life

As of March 2022, James is in a relationship with Rachael Kirkconnell, the woman he chose on The Bachelor.[20] James is also a marathon runner and participated in the 2022 and 2023 New York City Marathon.[21][22]

Shalane Flanagan and Matt James at mile 24 of the 2023 New York City Marathon

Notes

  1. ^ Although James was initially to be the second African American lead, the first was Rachel Lindsay in The Bachelorette season 13 before the sudden introduction of Tayshia Adams in The Bachelorette season 16, which would be filmed less than two months later. James became the third lead in the franchise's history.

References

  1. ^ a b "2014 Football Roster - Matt James". Wake Forest University Athletics. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved June 12, 2020. Son of Manny and Patty James ... Born Dec. 5, 1991
  2. ^ Chuba, Kirsten (June 12, 2020). "ABC Casts Its First Black 'Bachelor'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  3. ^ Hanner, Carol L. (January 5, 2019). "A Taste of Success". Wake Forest Magazine. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  4. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (January 5, 2021). "Matt James on Normalizing Conversations About Interracial Relationships and the Pressure of Being the First Black 'Bachelor'". Variety. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  5. ^ Cain, Brooke (June 12, 2020). "ABC's first Black 'Bachelor' is a Raleigh native and ex-Wake Forest football player". The News & Observer. Raleigh, North Carolina. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Chavez, Chris (June 12, 2020). "Former Wake Forest Wide Receiver Matt James Announced As Next 'Bachelor'". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  7. ^ a b Drysdale, Jennifer (June 12, 2020). "Who Is Matt James: 5 Things to Know About the First Black 'Bachelor'". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  8. ^ "2015 Draft Scout Matt James, Wake Forest NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  9. ^ "Matt James 2015 NFL Draft Profile". insider.espn.com. Retrieved March 25, 2022.
  10. ^ Strickland, Bryan (May 7, 2015). "Panthers ready for rookie minicamp". Panthers.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  11. ^ Woodbery, Evan (June 17, 2015). "3 players in tryouts at New Orleans Saints minicamp". NOLA.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  12. ^ Discher, Emma and Amie Just (June 12, 2020). "Did you know? New Bachelor Matt James once tried out for the New Orleans Saints". NOLA.com. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  13. ^ Bumbaca, Chris (June 12, 2020). "New 'Bachelor' Matt James played wide receiver for Wake Forest Deamon Deacons". USA Today. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  14. ^ Rodriguez, Bianca (June 12, 2020). "Tyler Cameron and Matt James Are Friendship Goals". Marie Claire. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  15. ^ Drysdale, Jennifer (June 12, 2020). "New 'Bachelor' Matt James on How Tyler Cameron's Late Mother Nominated Him for the Show (Exclusive)". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  16. ^ Wagmeister, Elizabeth (June 12, 2020). "'The Bachelor': Inside Matt James' Selection as the First Black Star in Series History (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  17. ^ Jacobs, Julia (June 12, 2020). "First Black 'Bachelor', Matt James, Cast by ABC". The New York Times. Retrieved June 12, 2020.
  18. ^ "Bachelor Matt James Says He's 'Pursuing' a Relationship with Ex Rachael Kirkconnell: I'm 'Focusing on It'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  19. ^ Duncan, Gabrielle (October 12, 2021). "DWTS: Two Celebrities Sent Home in Disney Week's Double Elimination". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  20. ^ Dupre, Elise (March 8, 2022). "See Bachelor Nation's Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell's Date Night at the 2022 ACM Awards". E!. Retrieved March 12, 2022.
  21. ^ Vargas, Chanel (November 7, 2022). "Matt James Ran in the 2022 NYC Marathon". POPSUGAR Fitness. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  22. ^ Ratliff, Laura; Kahler, Theo (November 5, 2023). "Here's How the Celebrities Did at the 2023 New York City Marathon". Runner's World. Retrieved November 5, 2023.

External links

Preceded byPeter Weber The Bachelor Season 25 (2021) Succeeded byClayton Echard
The Bachelor franchise
Categories