Bears Safety Owens Temporarily Absent From Camp To Stand By Wife, Gymnast Biles, At Olympics.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Training camp is a crucial time for NFL players, with job battles at their peak. However, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens is taking a different approach. As his wife, Simone Biles, competes for the U.S. gymnastics team at the Paris Olympics, Owens has decided to take five days off to support her.

Owens reflects on the newfound popularity of gymnastics, stating, “It’s like everyone’s a gymnastics fan now. People are asking me questions, and you might be walking around the building and see a commercial with her up there, so it’s just crazy.”

The Chicago Bears organization has shown immense support for Owens’ decision to be by his wife’s side during the Olympics. Owens’ trip was planned in advance and approved by the team when he signed a two-year contract as a free agent in March. Owens expresses his gratitude to the Bears, stating, “First-class organization. I just want to thank them so much for allowing me to go over and support her.”

Simone Biles, a decorated gymnast who won multiple gold medals and is a six-time world champion, is favored to win the team competition at the Paris Olympics. If she medals, it will be the third consecutive Summer Games where a family member of a Bears player has achieved such success. In 2021, defensive end Robert Quinn’s sister, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn, won gold in the 100-meter hurdles for Puerto Rico. In 2016, Corey Cogdell-Unrein, the wife of Bears defensive end Mitch Unrein, won bronze in women’s trap shooting.

Coach Matt Eberflus fully supports Owens’ decision to be with his wife during the Olympics, saying, “Just because we respect the Olympics. That is a big deal. And he’s just supporting the one he loves the most. And I think that’s so cool that he gets to do that. We welcome that, and it’s gonna be awesome. Go USA.”

Despite Owens’ absence, his teammates in training camp are understanding and supportive. Owens shares, “Guys are just being super supportive, you know? It’s super dope. They’re asking, ‘bring some souvenirs back.’ That’s what they’re asking.”

Owens and Biles got married last year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on fans, this is the first opportunity for Owens to watch Biles compete in person at the Olympics. He recalls waking up at early hours during past Olympics to catch her events on TV while in training camp.

Owens plans to stay in touch with the Bears during his trip, ensuring he doesn’t miss any team meetings or installs. He also looks forward to watching the Bears in the Hall of Fame Game against Houston on August 1 in Canton, Ohio.

While in Paris, Owens will be an avid USA Gymnastics follower, eagerly supporting his wife. He admits to feeling nervous while watching her perform, stating, “It’s like the person you love most, and you see them up there in a position where someone could get hurt, and you care about her, so it’s always super nerve-wracking.”

Following the Olympics, Biles will join Owens in Chicago after completing a post-Olympics gymnastics tour for the U.S. team. They have been apart while she trained and Owens attended training camp. Owens eagerly anticipates their reunion, saying, “Seeing her, man. I haven’t seen her in about three weeks now, so just seeing her and just obviously, I’ve never been over to Paris, so that’s pretty cool to say that I’ve been able to go. But just seeing her and being able to see her do her thing. That’s really what I’m happy for.”