They were the couple that "blew up" the entire franchise. If you watched The Bachelorette in 2020, you remember the shockwaves. Clare Crawley, after years of searching for love across multiple seasons of the show, locked eyes with former NFL player Dale Moss and basically said, "I'm done." She didn't need the other 20-something guys. She didn't need the rose ceremonies or the travel.
She wanted Dale.
It was romantic. It was chaotic. And honestly, it was a mess. Looking back from 2026, the Dale Moss and Clare Crawley saga serves as a permanent case study in why the "whirlwind" approach usually hits a brick wall once the cameras stop rolling and real life—with its messy logistics and conflicting zip codes—takes over.
The 12-Day Engagement That Shook Bachelor Nation
Most leads on this show take eight weeks to find "their person." Clare took twelve days. It’s hard to overstate how much that irritated the production team and fascinated the fans. She was so convinced Dale Moss was her future husband that she reportedly refused to film with anyone else. Producers were forced to pivot, bringing in Tayshia Adams to finish the season, while Clare and Dale rode off into the sunset with a massive 4.5-carat Neil Lane diamond.
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But here is what most people get wrong: they think it was just a "show" thing.
Clare was genuinely all-in. She was ready for the babies, the house in Sacramento, and the quiet life. Dale, on the other hand, was a rising star in New York City. He was a model, an athlete, and a "multi-hyphenate" looking to build a massive media brand. The friction started almost immediately. While Clare was posting about house hunting near her mother, who was battling Alzheimer’s, Dale was often seen in NYC. The lifestyle gap wasn't just wide; it was a canyon.
Why the Breakup Was So Brutal
The end didn't happen once. It happened twice.
The first split in January 2021 was a PR disaster. Dale posted a "mutual" breakup statement on his Instagram, and Clare essentially replied with, "Wait, what?" She claimed she was blindsided, finding out about the public announcement at the same time as the fans. It was a cold move. You don't dump the woman who quit a TV show for you via an Instagram story without a heads-up.
- The Reconciliation: They tried again a few weeks later. You’d see them holding hands in Florida or at the US Open in New York.
- The Final Blow: By September 2021, it was over for good. Rumors of infidelity (which Dale denied) and disagreements over a "timeline" for children proved to be too much.
They weren't just on different pages; they were reading different books. Dale wasn't ready to be a father and a suburban husband in his early 30s. Clare, at 39, wasn't interested in waiting for someone to "find themselves" while her mother's health declined.
Where Are They Now? (The 2026 Update)
Fast forward to today, and the contrast in their lives is staggering. It’s a classic example of two people who were never meant to be a "forever" match, despite the initial fireworks.
Clare Crawley found her "happily ever after," just not with a reality TV star. She met Ryan Dawkins, the CEO of Mascot Sports, and things moved with a different kind of intensity—a stable one. They married in 2023 (twice, actually, including a fun Las Vegas ceremony in 2024) and welcomed their daughter, Rowen, via surrogate in early 2024. If you follow Clare now, she’s living the life she always talked about on the show: motherhood, family, and a partner who is actually present in Sacramento.
Dale Moss took a very different path. After a long-term relationship with HGTV designer Galey Alix ended in late 2024, he shocked everyone by returning to the franchise. In the summer of 2025, Dale joined the cast of Bachelor in Paradise Season 10.
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He didn't leave the beach engaged this time.
Instead, he left the show dating Kat Izzo. He seems to have learned his lesson about the "12-day engagement." Dale has focused heavily on his work with the Special Olympics and his media company, Moss Martin Media. He’s still the New York guy. He’s still the "brand."
Actionable Insights from the Dale and Clare Saga
If we can learn anything from the Dale Moss and Clare Crawley relationship, it’s that "chemistry" is a terrible predictor of "compatibility." You can feel a soul-deep connection with someone in two weeks, but that won't help you decide who’s moving across the country or when to start a family.
What You Can Take Away:
- Trust the "Slow Burn" over the "Explosion": Intense early connections often mask fundamental lifestyle differences. If you're feeling an "instant" spark, intentionally slow down to discuss the "boring" stuff like city of residence and career goals.
- Watch for "Action" vs. "Words": Dale said he was "all in," but his physical presence remained tied to his NYC career goals. In any relationship, look at where a person spends their time, not just what they say in a romantic speech.
- The "Blindsight" Rule: If a partner handles a breakup without respect for your dignity—like posting a public statement before talking to you—it’s a reflection of their character, not your worth.
- Reconciliation rarely works without change: Dale and Clare tried to "fix" it, but the core issues (Sacramento vs. NYC, kids vs. career) never changed. Don't go back to an ex unless the specific reason for the breakup has been tangibly resolved.
Ultimately, Clare's story has a happy ending because she stopped trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. She wanted a family, and she eventually found someone who wanted that too. Dale is still searching, but he's doing it on his own terms now, away from the pressure of "exploding" a TV show.
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Sometimes, the best thing that can happen to a "perfect" couple is for them to realize they aren't perfect for each other at all.