The Chicago Bears’ Sunday night game against the Tennessee Titans started disastrously, particularly for quarterback Caleb Williams, who was the No. 1 pick in this year’s NFL Draft. Williams had a rough debut, consistently overthrowing receivers on crucial third downs. His performance in the first half ended with a lackluster 8-of-14 for just 54 yards, as the Bears trailed 17-3 at halftime. It seemed like the game was slipping away from Chicago, but safety Jonathan Owens gave the team a much-needed spark, helping them mount a comeback to win 24-17 at Soldier Field.
The turning point came in the third quarter, when Daniel Hardy blocked a punt by Tennessee’s Ryan Stonehouse. Owens scooped up the ball at the Titans’ 21-yard line and dashed into the end zone, cutting Tennessee’s lead to 17-10. This play was significant not just for the comeback but because it marked the first time in 26 years that the Bears’ first touchdown of a season came via special teams. Despite this moment of glory, Owens didn’t deliver on a promise he had made earlier in the season.
In an episode of HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks,’ which was covering the Bears, Owens had shared his plan to honor his wife, Simone Biles, if he ever made an interception this season. The idea, suggested by his teammate Elijah Hicks, was for Owens to perform a flip in tribute to Biles, the 7-time Olympic gold medalist gymnast. Hicks even joked that they could salute together afterward. However, while Owens scored a touchdown, he did not perform the celebratory flip. Despite missing this opportunity, Biles was still overjoyed by her husband’s achievement. She expressed her excitement on social media, replying to NBC’s tweet about the touchdown with, “I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK,” and later writing “My heart” in another post.
While Owens’ touchdown made headlines, some commentators didn’t shy away from labeling him “Mr. Biles,” as Fox Sports’ Adam Amin did during the game broadcast. This comment recalled a controversy from last year when fans had similarly referred to Owens as “Mr. Biles,” a nickname implying that he was only famous due to his relationship with Simone. The issue resurfaced during a December episode of the Pivot Podcast, where Owens revealed that he didn’t know who Simone Biles was when they started dating. In response to this, Simone’s fans criticized him, arguing that Biles, already a celebrated athlete, was the more famous partner.
Simone, however, quickly defended her husband. She posted on social media, telling critics to stop disrespecting Owens, warning that she would block anyone who continued. In another post, she jokingly offered a piece of tape to her detractors to seal their mouths. During the same podcast, Simone even predicted that Owens might surpass her fame one day, suggesting that people might start referring to her as “Jonathan Owens’ wife” instead.
Despite this public support, Owens is still often overshadowed by Simone’s immense popularity. During a Packers game last year, Simone donned a custom black leather jacket with Owens’ jersey number and “Mrs. Owens” prominently displayed on the back, but her efforts haven’t completely shifted the spotlight to him. Sunday’s game again illustrated that Owens’ performance, while commendable, continues to be seen in the context of his wife’s fame. The question remains: Will Owens ever escape the shadow of Simone Biles and be recognized fully on his own merits?
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