He would like to be famously un-single! Bachelorette alum Josh Murray reveals to The Knot in an exclusive new interview that he wanted to compete for JoJo Fletcher’s heart on Season 12 of the reality series, but that idea was quickly shut down.

Murray — who memorably won the final rose on Andi Dorfman’s season of The Bachelorette — is starring on E!’s new reality series, Famously Single. It’s also the main reason why he can’t pursue Fletcher.

“The network wouldn’t let me!” says Murray, 31, whom The Knot caught up with last week at the show’s NYC launch party. “It was in the contract, because this show airs at the same time as the other one [The Bachelorette]. So I couldn’t be on both at the same time.”

Murray, however, has a very high opinion of Fletcher. “I think JoJo is somebody that, you know, is a good-looking woman and seems very genuine and nice. She’s got a lot of great qualities,” he says, mentioning how it took her weeks to eliminate season 12 villain Chad Johnson.

“She says what’s on her mind, but she’s not nasty with it,” he continues. “That’s one of the things too. When people are talking about Chad and I don’t judge anyone… it’s him against everyone else. Sometimes when you’re pinned and make one mistake, you feel like you’re on guard with everybody. I’m not saying anything he’s doing is right or wrong, but it’s a tough situation. I mean, his mom passed away like six months ago so who knows what he’s dealing with? You just don’t know unless you’re in somebody’s shoes. Does that mean something is right? No. But you’ve gotta [see] yourself [from] the other person’s perspective.”

Fletcher sent Johnson packing after a dramatic two-on-one date last Tuesday, June 7. Ultimately, Murray imagines the Bachelorette will end up with Jordan Rodgers, the younger brother of NFL superstar Aaron Rodgers.

“We’ve gotta keep the athlete brother thing going, right?” Murray says, alluding to his own younger brother (also coincidentally named Aaron) who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. “If Jordan doesn’t pull it out then I don’t know. I think there are some good guys, but I mean, who knows? Who knows what she’s thinking? I don’t know what she’s thinking.” He jokingly teases: “Maybe you guys will see me on there.”

Jokes aside, Murray is serious about finding his future wife. “To be honest with you, TV is great — and it gives you a great platform to do stuff — but the only reason I went on The Bachelorette is to find somebody. The only reason I came here [to Famously Single] is to learn something … It’s all about finding somebody. If I could find someone tonight and not have to do another show ever again, I’d be the happiest man in the world.”

He isn’t diminishing The Bachelorette, though. “I really believe in the process. I do,” he insists. “Or I wouldn’t be doing it. I think it works if you have two people who are genuine and if you don’t, then it’s not going to work.”

Murray admits that the reality spotlight has hindered his love life — until he recently sat with Dr. Darcy Sterling to discuss his roadblocks. “I’m just not a good dater. It’s tough for me,” the former athlete muses. “It’s tough for me to approach women that I’m attracted to and I needed to get over that hump and start being uncomfortable in order for me to be comfortable later on. So it was all about a learning experience for me … What happens a lot [is that] women are aggressive these days. It’s different. And while that’s fine, I need to be the one to go out there as well.”

His biggest challenge, in fact, has been taking initiative. “I’ve learned that I need to stop being afraid to approach women and I need to just go and do it because more than anything in the world,” Murray shares. “I want to find a wife and I want a family and I want kids. Everybody’s always like, ‘She’ll come to you,’ but that hasn’t happened like that. I need to go out there and find her.”

Tune in to the premiere of Famously Single on Tuesday, June 14, at 10 p.m. ET on E!