Jonathan Owens Bio
Jonathan James Owens (born July 22, 1995) is an American professional football safety for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet tall and weighing around 205 pounds, Owens has carved out a steady professional career after entering the league as an undrafted free agent, eventually building a reputation as a reliable defensive reserve and a contributor on special teams. He has also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, and Green Bay Packers since first signing in 2018.
Beyond the field, Jonathan Owens is widely known as the husband of American artistic gymnast Simone Biles, one of the most decorated athletes in gymnastics history. The couple announced their engagement in early 2022 and married in April 2023, drawing significant public attention to Owens and his career.
Early Life and Background
Jonathan James Owens was born on July 22, 1995, in St. Louis, Missouri, where he grew up surrounded by the city’s strong football culture. He attended Loyola Academy of St. Louis for middle school before enrolling at Christian Brothers College High School, a well-known Catholic school recognized for its athletic programs. At CBC, Owens developed into a promising defensive player under the guidance of head coach Scott Pingel.
During his high school career, Owens earned recognition as Christian Brothers College Linebacker of the Year, an early sign of the defensive instincts that would later shape his professional trajectory. While at CBC, he primarily played linebacker, learning the fundamentals of tackling, reading offensive formations, and playing with discipline at the line of scrimmage. His time at the school laid the foundation for the football IQ that has defined his career.
Off the field, Owens was a diligent student who balanced academics with athletics, a pattern that would continue into his college years. His St. Louis upbringing gave him exposure to a deep talent pool, and his high school performance drew attention from several college football programs, ultimately leading him to a Division II program in his home state.
Path to Professional Football
Following high school, Jonathan Owens accepted a scholarship to play for the Missouri Western State University Griffons, a Division II program in St. Joseph, Missouri. He redshirted during the 2013 season, using the year to adjust to the college level and develop his body. Owens then moved into the defensive backfield, a position change that better suited his speed, range, and ball skills.
Over the course of his college career, Owens proved himself a model student-athlete, earning a place on the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Academic Honor Roll every year. During his final season in 2017, he was named the MWSU Male Student-Athlete of the Year and earned second-team all-MIAA honors. He majored in pre-physical therapy, with stated aspirations of becoming a doctor if professional football had not worked out.
Despite his strong college production and academic record, Owens went unselected in the 2018 NFL Draft, a common experience for Division II prospects. His productive senior season, however, was enough to earn him a chance at the professional level, and he signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent, beginning a long road to establishing himself in the league.
Jonathan Owens Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Jonathan Owens signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft and immediately began working to earn a roster spot. During the final week of organized team activities before the 2018 regular season, however, Owens suffered an injury that led to his release. He spent his entire rookie year on injured reserve, a difficult start that required patience and persistence.
The Cardinals waived Owens on August 31, 2019, ending his time in Arizona. Rather than stepping away from the game, he continued to pursue his professional dream, and on September 30, 2019, he was signed to the practice squad of the Houston Texans, beginning the next chapter of his NFL journey.
Houston Texans Breakthrough (2019–2022)
Owens joined the Houston Texans practice squad in late September 2019, working to develop his game and learn the team’s defensive system. He was promoted to the active roster on November 21, 2019, though he was waived two days later and returned to the practice squad. On January 13, 2020, Owens signed a reserve/future contract with the Texans, securing his place with the organization heading into the new league year.
His 2020 season followed a similar pattern, as he was waived and re-signed to the practice squad, then elevated to the active roster for weeks 5 and 6 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans. On December 12, 2020, Owens was signed to the active roster, gaining his first sustained opportunity in the league. In 2021, after being waived and re-signed again, he was promoted to the active roster on December 4 and signed a two-year, $1.175 million extension that ran through the 2022 season.
Owens’s most notable Texans moment came on December 26, 2021, when he recorded his first career interception and his first fumble recovery in an upset win over the Los Angeles Chargers. His breakthrough was cut short on January 3, 2022, when he was placed on injured reserve after suffering a dislocated wrist in the team’s Week 16 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He spent the 2022 season on injured reserve as well, ending his Texans tenure on a frustrating note.
Green Bay Packers Era (2023)
On May 12, 2023, Jonathan Owens signed with the Green Bay Packers, joining a young defensive group looking to add depth at the safety position. The move gave him a fresh start after two injury-marred seasons in Houston and an opportunity to contribute on a team in transition.
Owens made an immediate impact in Green Bay, scoring his first career touchdown on Thanksgiving Day against the Detroit Lions. He recovered a fumble and returned it 27 yards as the Packers won 29–22, a memorable moment that highlighted his value as a playmaker on defense and on special teams.
Chicago Bears Era (2024–Present)
On March 13, 2024, Jonathan Owens signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Bears, beginning the latest chapter of his professional career. He was granted time off from Bears training camp to watch Simone Biles compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, underscoring the couple’s close bond and public support for one another.
Owens opened the 2024 season with one of the most memorable plays of his career, scoring the Bears’ first touchdown of the year on a returned blocked punt in a 24–17 victory over the Tennessee Titans. He added another highlight in Week 14, recording his second career interception and his first since 2021 off the San Francisco 49ers’ Brandon Allen. Heading into 2025, Owens remains a depth piece in Chicago’s secondary and a core contributor on special teams.
Driving Style and Strengths
Although a safety rather than a ball-carrier, Jonathan Owens is known for his physicality, intelligence, and willingness to support the run game. His time at Missouri Western and across multiple NFL defensive systems has made him a versatile defender capable of playing near the line of scrimmage or in coverage, and his special teams work, including blocked-punt returns and fumble recoveries, has become a defining part of his professional identity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Owens’s most celebrated professional moments include his first career interception against the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021, his first career touchdown against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving 2023, and his blocked-punt return touchdown against the Tennessee Titans to open the 2024 season. Each of these plays represents a major milestone in a career that began as an undrafted free agent and has continued through perseverance and steady growth.
Jonathan Owens Career Wins
Although statistics for a career built largely on special teams and rotational defensive snaps are not always highlighted in major categories, Jonathan Owens has accumulated several marquee individual milestones, including a fumble-recovery touchdown, an interception, and a blocked-punt return touchdown. His wins and big plays have often come in high-visibility moments, including Thanksgiving Day and the season opener of 2024.
NFL Highlights
Owens’s first career interception came on December 26, 2021, in a Texans upset of the Los Angeles Chargers, a defining moment that secured his place in Houston’s defensive rotation. His first career touchdown followed on Thanksgiving 2023, a 27-yard fumble recovery against the Detroit Lions. In 2024, he added a blocked-punt return touchdown against the Tennessee Titans and an interception of San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brandon Allen in Week 14, reinforcing his value as a playmaker on the Chicago Bears.
Other Performances
Owens earned the Missouri Western State University Male Student-Athlete of the Year award in 2017 and second-team all-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association honors in his final college season. He was also named Christian Brothers College High School Linebacker of the Year during his prep career, marking the first major individual recognition of his football journey.
Jonathan Owens Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Jonathan James Owens was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, and is a proud product of the city’s strong football and Catholic school traditions. He attended Loyola Academy of St. Louis for middle school and Christian Brothers College High School, where he first gained recognition as a Linebacker of the Year. His path from a St. Louis high school standout to a long NFL career reflects both his personal drive and the support system around him.
Personal Life
Owens is married to American artistic gymnast Simone Biles, widely regarded as the most decorated gymnast in history. The couple announced their engagement on February 15, 2022, and married on April 22, 2023. Their relationship has drawn significant public attention, particularly following a December 2023 interview on The Pivot Podcast in which Owens described himself as “the catch” in their relationship. Biles later addressed the reaction on the Call Her Daddy podcast in April 2024, saying that while she initially found the comments funny, they eventually hurt her feelings. In 2024, Owens was granted time off from Chicago Bears training camp to watch Biles compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
2025 Season Outlook
Entering the 2025 NFL season, Jonathan Owens remains under contract with the Chicago Bears as part of the two-year deal he signed in March 2024. His role within Chicago’s secondary and on special teams is expected to continue, with the depth and experience he provides offering value to a Bears defense in the middle of a long-term build.
Owens will look to build on the momentum of his 2024 season, which included a blocked-punt return touchdown against the Tennessee Titans and an interception off Brandon Allen of the San Francisco 49ers. As a veteran undrafted free agent who has now played for four NFL organizations, his 2025 storyline is one of consistency, special teams impact, and continued growth in Chicago.
Off the field, Owens and his wife Simone Biles are expected to continue their high-profile partnership, with Biles potentially pursuing further competitive opportunities in artistic gymnastics. The couple’s public profile, combined with Owens’s continued contributions on defense and special teams, makes 2025 another notable chapter in his journey from Missouri Western to the NFL.