ABC's new "Golden Bachelor" Mel Owenshas a cutoff age, revealing that any female contestant age 60 or over would be "cut." "It's blind up until they get out of the limo. But they asked me, 'what's your preferences?' So, I just said 45 to 60, just being honest," Owens,the former NFL veteran-turned-lawyer and father, shared in aJune 4 interviewwith "In The Trenches," a podcast hosted by Jon Jansen for the University of Michigan Athletics. "And then the process went, and I was selected, right? And then we had lunch with the executive producer. I said, 'you know, if they're 60 or over, I'm cutting them,'" the 66-year-old said. "Oh Mel, you can't, you know, this is not the 'Silver Bachelor.' It's the 'Golden Bachelor.' He goes, but they're going to be hot, don't worry about it. Don't worry about it." The age range for the 22 contestants that participated in the inaugural "Golden Bachelor" season was between 60 and 75. The show's lead, Gerry Turner, was 72 at the time and went on to marry Theresa Nist, 70, before the couple split in April 2024. Owens, who wasannouncedasthe show's leadin late April, insisted that he knew nothing about the women themselves, other than that they would be "beautiful." "I had no resume, but they asked me, what is my, like, my profile?" Owens said. "Well, they got to be fit because I stay in shape, should work out and stuff. And I told them, you know, try to stay away from the artificial hips and the wigs, you know, that kind of stuff, right." "Well, I don't think they're (there are) going to be artificial hips or wigs there, right? Because I know there's amazing women out there," Owens tells Jansen before elaborating more on his type. Other than no artificial hips or wigs, Owens says he's looking for someone "who's a lifetime learner, enjoys to love life and work out and stay fit and eat and have fun and be energetic and life live." We've got reality TV covered:Sign upfor USA TODAY's Entertainment newsletter. Owens, 66, was "born and raised in a close-knit Midwestern family in Detroit," but later moved to Michigan to play college football as his "athleticism shone through from an early age." After graduating from the University of Michigan, he was selected as the ninth overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft by theLos Angeles Ramsand played as their linebacker for nine seasons, from 1981 to 1989. Owens became a lawyer and moved to Orange County, California following his retirement from the NFL. He's currently a partner a local law firm specializing in sports injuries and workers' compensation. He's 66 and single — for now. Meet Mel Owens, a former NFL player-turned-lawyer, proud father, and your next Golden Bachelor. 🌹pic.twitter.com/hRqA3UIY6L — The Golden Bachelor (@GoldenBachABC)April 22, 2025 "It was during this time that he met his first love, and together they had two sons," ABC's press release says. "While life took an unexpected turn with the passing of his father and the end of his marriage, Owens channeled his energy into being the best father he could be, focusing on raising his sons and coaching their extracurricular sports teams." Owens was previously married for 25 years and said he's found himself missing "companionship." As for the kind of woman he's looking for, Owens said: "Someone that's honest, charming, loving, fit, someone full of life." "After several years as a devoted dad, Owens is ready to rediscover a love rooted in the simple joys of companionship – sharing life's everyday moments, making plans for the future, and growing stronger together as a couple," according to ABC's press release. "As the Golden Bachelor, he's eager to meet someone who shares this vision and finally find that perfect teammate he's been waiting for in his golden years." ABC has kept pretty much all the details about the upcoming season close to the vest, saying in an April 22 news release that a premiere date will be "announced at a later date." Contributing: KiMi Robinson and Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Golden Bachelor' Mel Owens reveals his cutoff age for contestants