Retired NFL linebacker Mel Owens is back in the spotlight as the star of The Golden Bachelor Season 2, which premiered on September 24, 2025. The 66-year-old former Los Angeles Rams player immediately sparked debate when he revealed he would not date women older than 60, drawing both attention and criticism ahead of the show.
At Hulu’s Get Real event in April 2025, Owens told host Jesse Palmer that he was looking for someone “honest, charming, loving, fit, and full of life” among the 23 contestants. While some questioned his age preferences, Owens’ ex-wife, Fabiana Pimentel Owens, seemed to have anticipated the headlines.
Fabiana Pimentel Owens, originally from Brazil, is Mel’s “first love” and was married to him for 25 years. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Faculdade da Cidade in Brazil and a master’s in marketing from UCLA. Fabiana currently works as Director of Experiences at Preferred Hotels & Resorts and previously founded Final Touch Organizing, a home organization company focused on Feng Shui.
The couple has two sons, Lucas and Andre, both aspiring athletes. Lucas graduated from Santa Margarita Catholic High School in 2025 and hopes to attend the University of Michigan, while Andre, a senior, has committed to Oklahoma State. Interestingly, it was Andre who suggested that his father participate in the dating reality show.
Fabiana filed for divorce in February 2020, which concluded nearly five years later in December 2024. Court documents reveal Mel was ordered to pay nearly USD 1 million for child and spousal support, property division, and attorney’s fees. Despite the settlement, Owens retained assets worth over USD 2.75 million, including their Orange County home valued at more than USD 2 million.
When asked about Owens’ reality TV debut, Fabiana kept her response brief, telling the Daily Mail:
“Good luck. I mean, it’s going to be bad. But anyway, I don’t want to be involved in this.”
Born on December 7, 1958, in Detroit, Owens became a standout linebacker at the University of Michigan before being drafted ninth overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 1981. He played 122 games over nine seasons, recording 26.5 sacks, until a herniated disk ended his football career.
Following retirement, Owens pursued law, joining law school and eventually co-founding Namanny, Byrne & Owens in 2006. As a sports attorney, he has represented athletes in disability and workers’ compensation cases, drawing lessons from his football career to guide his legal work.