So there I was, scrolling through game highlights like you do at 2 AM, and I stumble upon this clip. Jonathan Owens, in a light blue Bears jersey, absolutely layers a running back on a screen pass. Not just a tackle—a violent, statement-making hit that made my coffee go cold. I immediately texted my buddy: “Wait, is this guy actually good, or is the internet just gaslighting me again?”

Let’s be real: most people first heard his name because he married Simone Biles. (No shade, the woman is literally a space-traveling gymnast.) But that association creates a weird lens. Suddenly, a safety who’s worked his tail off for years becomes a punchline or a trivia answer. It’s like nobody can just watch the tape without whispering about his wedding registry.

The Undrafted Grind (aka, “Prove It Every Day”)

Owens entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Missouri Western. That’s D-II football, folks—not exactly the SEC hype machine. He had to make his bones on special teams for the Texans, doing the dirty work that doesn’t get a TikTok edit. The fact he’s still in the league six years later is already a win over 99% of undrafted players.

You don’t survive that long on luck. Or on a famous spouse’s Instagram shoutouts. The NFL is a shark tank, and if you can’t tackle or cover, you’re out before the commercial break. Owens has consistently found a way to stick on rosters, and that alone deserves a tip of the cap.

The Tape: The Good, The Bad, and The “Wow, That Was Ugly”

When you watch his film, you see a guy who loves to hit. He’s a tone-setter in the run game, often flying downhill like a missile that forgot its guidance system. But that aggressiveness? It cuts both ways. Sometimes he overruns angles, gets caught in no-man’s land, or whiffs on a tackle in space.

Coverage is where the debate gets spicy. He’s not your classic ball-hawking free safety. His range is average, and his instincts against elite route-runners can leave him a step behind. (Remember that 2023 game where Tyreek Hill made him look like he was running in quick-dry cement? Yeah, that happened.)

Simone Biles reacts as her NFL husband, Jonathan Owens, scores forSimone Biles reacts as her NFL husband, Jonathan Owens, scores for

But here’s the thing: every safety has those moments against Tyreek freaking Hill. The question is whether Owens can be a reliable starter on a contending team. For the Bears in 2024, the early returns say… maybe? He’s been a serviceable box safety who can cover tight ends and blow up a jet sweep.

Let’s address the elephant in the living room: is he only famous because of Simone? I’d argue the media spotlight is definitely brighter because of her, but that doesn’t change the fact he earned a roster spot. You can’t marry your way into an NFL secondary. The league doesn’t care about your honeymoon photos when a 240-pound running back is barreling toward you.

Ironically, the scrutiny might be tougher for him. Every blown coverage gets a headline: “Simone Biles’ husband gets burned.” That’s a pressure most players never face. He’s got to be mentally tough just to ignore the noise and focus on his keys.

Simone Biles’ Husband Jonathan Owens Posts Message for Her 27th BirthdaySimone Biles’ Husband Jonathan Owens Posts Message for Her 27th Birthday

The Verdict (So You Can Win an Argument at a Bar)

Is Jonathan Owens a good football player? Yes. Is he a great one? Probably not. He sits somewhere in that vast middle tier of NFL safeties—the guys who won’t make the Pro Bowl but won’t cost you the game, either. He’s a solid depth piece with starting experience, a guy you feel okay about rotating in.

If you’re looking for a comp, think of a slightly more physical version of Jordan Poyer from like… 2019. Reliable in the box, a gamble in deep coverage. He’s the kind of player who keeps a defense functional without being its star.

So next time someone jokes, “He’s just Mr. Biles,” you can smirk and remind them: the guy has 400+ tackles in the NFL. That’s not a punchline. That’s a professional who beat the hell out of the odds. And honestly? I bet Simone would be the first to say he’s luckier to have her than to have a 4.4 forty time.

Final thought? He’s a good player. Not a Hall of Famer, not a bust. Just a gritty, hard-hitting safety who happened to fall in love with a global icon. And honestly? That’s a pretty cool story. Now go enjoy some football—and please stop asking me about his wife’s vault scores during a game. We get it.