Former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho to host 'The Bachelor: After the Final Rose' special

"The Bachelor: After the Final Rose" has a new host!

Bestselling author, on-air personality and former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho will host the special that is set to air immediately following "The Bachelor" season finale.

Acho and "The Bachelor" official Twitter accounts made the announcement on social media Saturday.

"I've accepted the Rose & am honored to be hosting the @bachelorabc After the Final Rose this year," Acho, the the host of the YouTube series "Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man," tweeted. "It's been a pivotal season & this episode will be one of the most storied shows in its history. Empathy is needed and change is coming. See y'all then!".

The former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker will sit down with Bachelor Matt James to discuss his season, his final decision and where he is now. The three final women, Bri, Michelle and Rachael, will also be making an appearance during the one-hour special.

The news comes following the recent announcement that longtime host Chris Harrison is "stepping aside" from his role in the franchise after defending one of the contestants who has come under scrutiny for past racist social media posts.

RELATED: Chris Harrison 'stepping aside' from role as 'Bachelor' host after defending controversial contestant

Television personality Chris Harrison announced Saturday that he is "stepping aside" from his role as host of "The Bachelor" franchise.

Earlier this month in an interview, Harrison appeared to defend a "Bachelor" contestant who has come under fire for past racist social media posts.

Rachael Kirkconnell was reportedly photographed at an antebellum plantation-themed fraternity formal in 2018. She also found herself in hot water after a TikTok went viral, claiming to show Kirkconnell liking posts with the Confederate flag and even sharing QAnon conspiracy theories.

Harrison had previously told "Extra" correspondent and former star of "The Bachelorette," Rachel Lindsay, that the pictures were a long time ago and spoke out against cancel culture.

"Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018, or is it not a good look in 2021? Because there's a big difference," Harrison said during the interview.

Harrison later posted a statement to Instagram and said he is "deeply remorseful" and he apologized to "the Black community, to the BIPOC community."

It is unclear if or when he will return to the show franchise, according to previous reports.

Host Chris Harrison gives ABC7 Entertainment Reporter George Pennacchio the inside scoop on what to expect this season of "The Bachelor."

"The Bachelor: After the Final Rose" will air Monday, March 15.