Simone Biles has never been one to hold back when something matters to her. Whether it’s standing atop the Olympic podium draped in gold or offering a heartfelt message of encouragement to a teammate, her passion always shines through. So, when the Chicago Bears announced on Wednesday that they were signing her husband, NFL safety Jonathan Owens, Biles’ reaction was instant, powerful, and unmistakably hers.
The news broke midmorning. The Bears had posted a short but dramatic announcement on their social media channels: a crisp photo of Owens signing his new deal at Halas Hall, captioned simply, “Welcome to Chicago, Jonathan Owens.” The moment that image hit the internet, the sports world reacted — and Simone Biles was right there with them, lighting up her phone like a proud wife, fan, and partner all in one.
Her response was swift. Within minutes, she had posted a string of excited messages that blended pure joy with her unique brand of humor. “CHICAGO, LET’S GOOOOO!” she wrote, followed by an emoji-studded celebration that included a bear, a football, and several dancing figures. In the next tweet, she added: “Can’t wait to cheer on my man in the Windy City. Already googling the best pizza spots. Let’s make this home.”
For anyone who’s followed Simone Biles over the years, her emotional transparency isn’t a surprise. She’s been open about her triumphs and her struggles — mental health, body image, public pressure — but she’s equally open when she’s over the moon. And on this day, it was clear she was floating.
What made the moment even more touching was how personal it felt. She didn’t just repost the team’s announcement or offer a standard “congrats.” No, she took time to make it her own. She added photos — one of her and Owens smiling in front of a football field, another of them on a city rooftop with Chicago’s skyline visible behind them from a previous visit. In her Instagram caption, she wrote, “This chapter’s going to be special. Proud doesn’t begin to cover it. Chicago, get ready for the best guy I know.”
Her fans flooded the comments with well-wishes. Many were thrilled not just for Owens, but for Biles herself. “Chicago’s lucky to have YOU too!” one follower wrote. Others joked about seeing her at Soldier Field doing flips in the stands. “If you’re not doing a handspring every time he gets a tackle, what are we even doing??” someone commented, followed by a barrage of laughing emojis.
But her joy wasn’t just online. Behind the scenes, those close to her said Biles was deeply moved by the Bears’ interest in her husband. Owens had been exploring options in free agency, and the uncertainty had weighed on both of them. Football careers, unlike those in gymnastics, often hinge on narrow windows of opportunity — injuries, team needs, and cap space. The Chicago offer didn’t just represent a new city or paycheck. It was a validation of everything Owens had worked for.
To Biles, who knows the sacrifices required to stay elite, that mattered. She’s seen Owens get up before sunrise for film sessions, push through minor injuries, study game tape until his eyes blurred. “People see game day,” she once said in an interview, “but they don’t see the grind. I do. And it’s inspiring.”
So when the call came and the deal was finalized, the emotions ran high. They FaceTimed family. They danced around their kitchen. They sat on the couch holding hands, imagining what life might look like in Chicago. Biles joked that she needed to buy new winter clothes — “Houston girl here, I don’t do snow!” — but the excitement in her voice overrode any hesitation.
What stood out most was her sense of pride. Not in a showy, look-at-me way. But in the quiet, deeply human sense that comes from watching someone you love achieve something meaningful. In that moment, she wasn’t America’s most decorated gymnast. She wasn’t the face of Nike campaigns or the subject of documentaries. She was Simone, the wife. The supporter. The cheerleader.
Later that day, Biles joined Owens for a small media appearance, where the couple stood side by side answering a few questions. Dressed in a Chicago Bears hoodie and jeans, Biles beamed as Owens fielded the football talk — defensive schemes, special teams, new beginnings. At one point, a reporter asked her how she felt about becoming part of the Bears community.
“I already feel welcomed,” she said with a grin. “We’ve gotten so many messages and so much love already. It feels like family. Plus, I’ve always liked deep-dish pizza, so it works out.”
The room laughed. And just like that, the new chapter felt a little more real.
As the day wore on, news stations began covering the story not just from the sports angle but from the human-interest side. Simone Biles — one of the most beloved athletes of the modern era — was now attached to the Bears in a deeply personal way. For a franchise hungry for positive headlines, the ripple effect was immediate. Ticket sales nudged upward. Jersey preorders for Owens spiked. And on social media, fans were already speculating about the day they’d see Biles at the stadium, maybe tossing the coin at a home opener or leading a halftime wave.
But beyond the headlines and hype, Biles’ reaction mattered for a different reason. It was a reminder of how much joy can be found in supporting someone else’s dream. Her career has been historic — four Olympic gold medals, 25 World Championship medals, and an impact that stretches far beyond gymnastics. Yet on this Wednesday in May, her joy came not from her own spotlight, but from someone else stepping into theirs.
She ended the night with a simple post on her Instagram story — a picture of her and Owens curled up on the couch, the Bears logo flickering on the television in front of them. No words. Just a heart.
And maybe that’s what made the moment so powerful. For all the noise that surrounds public figures — the fame, the pressure, the criticism — this moment felt deeply normal. A woman proud of her husband. A couple ready for the next adventure. A new city waiting to welcome them.
In the weeks ahead, Biles and Owens will begin the whirlwind of relocation — finding a place to live, meeting with the team, figuring out routines. For Biles, it might also include connecting with Chicago’s community of young gymnasts and athletes, something she’s always made time for no matter where life takes her. For Owens, it’ll mean locking into training camp and proving himself to a new team.
But for now, on this day, it was enough just to soak in the joy.
Simone Biles, the greatest gymnast the world has ever seen, had just watched her husband get a new beginning. And she was right there, smiling, cheering, dreaming alongside him — a champion in every sense of the word.