Simone Biles Met Her Now-Husband On This Exclusive Dating App
Simone Biles is soundly regarded as the GOAT of gymnastics, but now she’s taking over Netflix, as well. The Olympian’s new Netflix docuseries Simone Biles Rising debuted and offers fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at her last Olympic run and the lead-up to the games in Paris.
As the 27-year-old headed off to Paris to prep for 2024 Olympic Games, she said goodbye (for now!) to one of her biggest cheerleaders, her husband Jonathan Owens, 27. The Chicago Bears player will join her for a few days to see her shine in the City of Love, Simone confirmed earlier this month, but won’t be able to join her for her entire stay.
“See you in Paris baby,” Simone posted on her Instagram Stories on July 16, alongside a photo of the couple. In another picture, Simone showed off an Olympics quilt and a stuffed animal that, fittingly, appears to be a goat, per People.
This isn't the only inside look that fans have gotten at Simone's life leading up to her third Games. Her new Netflix docuseries Simone Biles Rising just debuted, which promises an behind-the-scenes peek at the gymnastics GOAT.
In an interview, the series' director said that the show will give fans new insight on Simone and Jonathan's relationship.
“Like so many times, especially in social media, you choose one sentence and then highlight that one sentence. And it’s not indicative of an entire relationship or an entire person,” director Katie Walsh told the New York Post of the couple. (In case you’re not aware, Jonathan drew plenty of controversy when he appeared on a podcast and called himself “the catch” in his relationship, among other things. More on that in a sec.)
“I hope that in this film, you get a chance to see more sides of him and them together, and it gives you a better understanding of the true relationship and the support that they provide each other and the love they have for each other,” Katie added.
Simone has a lot going on right now—she just made her third Olympic team, making her the oldest gymnast ever to represent the U.S. Of course, her family was there cheering her on, including Jonathan, who could be seen on the sidelines cheering his wife on.
The couple recently celebrated their one-year wedding anniversary, with Simone sharing a sweet snapshot in her Instagram Stories of Jonathan kissing her neck.
But while he regularly shows up at his wife’s competitions and they seem to have a loving relationship, Jonathan Owens is one of the most controversial husbands in women’s sports.
The drama first began in December 2023, when a comment by Jonathan about being the “catch” in his relationship went mega-viral. Nevertheless, Simone and Jonathan both say their relationship is stronger than ever.
"my whole heart 🤎🤞🏾" she captioned an IG post of their sweet kiss after the weekend's competition. "the best supporter, I couldn’t ask for a better husband"
Here’s everything to know about Simone Biles’ husband.
How and when did Simone and Jonathan meet?
Simone and Jonathan met on Raya, a private dating app, in 2020. Simone made the first move, and says she slid into his DMs, she told WSJ. Magazine.
“I saw him, and I was like, ‘Oh, he's pretty cute,' so I said hi…and then I saw that he was in the Houston area, so we started chatting a little bit, and then we went to hang out a week or two later.”
The relationship was a slow burn, per Simone, until her sister invited Jonathan to join the family for a vacation to their lake house. This sped things up a bit, and they started spending more time together, per the WSJ interview. It was during the pandemic, so both of the athletes had a rare opportunity to slow down and get to know each other without the pressure of their jobs, and training.
“It was one of the few times in her life where everything was just shut off and she couldn't do anything,” Jonathan shared with Texas Monthly in June 2021. “So we used it to get to know each other—really get to know each other. It created our bond and made it stronger. Now I'm so thankful.”
He’s a safety for the Chicago Bears, and he's 5'11.
No surprise here...Simone’s man is an athlete! Jonathan, 28, started playing football during high school in Missouri, through college at Missouri Western State University, and now plays professionally in the NFL.
Jonathan started his NFL career in 2018 with the Cardinals before joining the Houston Texans practice squad in 2019. He then officially signed with the Texans the following year. A few years later, he became a free agent and signed with the Packers in May 2023, according to his official player bio. He signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Bears in March 2024.
And in case you were wondering, Jonathan is 5’ 11” while Simone is 4’ 8”.
He’s from St. Louis, Missouri.
Jonathan calls himself “just a kid from St. Louis” in his Instagram bio, also noting that he was previously undrafted.
He played for Missouri Western State University, and his school bio points out that he was Male Student-Athlete of the Year in 2017.
His zodiac sign is Cancer.
Jonathan’s birthday is on July 22, which makes him a Cancer. In case you’re not familiar with the sign, Cancers are known for being nurturing, sensitive, and imaginative.
Worth noting: Cancers are super compatible with Pisces, and Simone is a Pisces.
They first began dating in 2020.
Yes, Simone and Jonathan are a quarantine couple. The pair met in March 2020 via the dating app Raya, just before pandemic lockdowns began. But it was Simone who slid into Jonathan's DMs, not the other way around.
"I saw him and I was like, 'Oh, he's pretty cute,' so I said hi...and then I saw that he was in the Houston area, so we started chatting a little bit, and then we went to hang out a week or two later," she told the Wall Street Journal in 2021.
He didn’t know who his wife was at first.
Even though Simone is the most famous gymnast in the world, he wasn't aware of her greatness just yet. "I didn’t know who she was," he told Texas Monthly in 2021. "I just hadn’t heard of her, and when I told her that, that’s one of the things she liked."
Jonathan also said in an episode of Simone vs Herself that he was impressed by his now-wife’s worth ethic. “I never really watched gymnastics before I first started talking to her. When I met her, I honestly didn’t know who she was. It was just kind of like, ‘Oh, she’s got a lot of followers. You know, she must be pretty good or something,’” he said.
But Jonathan said that people started to freak out when he mentioned that he was dating Simone Biles. “They’re like, ‘Simone Biles?! You for real, the gymnast?!’ And I’m like, ‘Man, she’s good like that?!’ Like I didn’t [know].”
The timing worked out perfectly for the couple—the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Jonathan’s NFL training, suddenly freeing up their schedules, per the Monthly.
"We ended up hanging out right before the pandemic," he said. "It was one of the few times in her life where everything was just shut off and she couldn’t do anything. So we used it to get to know each other—really get to know each other. It created our bond and made it stronger. Now I’m so thankful." Awww.
They got engaged in 2022 and tied the knot the next year.
Jonathan popped the question in February 2022, with Simone sharing the exciting news via Instagram. “THE EASIEST YES,” Simone captioned her engagement photos. “I can’t wait to spend forever & ever with you, you’re everything I dreamed of and more! let’s get married FIANCÉ 💍🥺🥲🤎”
The couple got married in two 2023 ceremonies—first in an April courthouse wedding, then again in a larger ceremony in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The 140-guest event featured gold and white decorations, and Simone rocked four different dresses during the celebration, per People.
At the time, Simone explained to her followers why they got married in the United States before heading to Mexico for their ceremony.
"We had to get married 'legally' here in the U.S. since our wedding will be a destination wedding," she said on IG, per People.
During the wedding ceremony, Simone wore a while lace dress, while Jonathan rocked a beige tux. The wedding had a white and gold theme, and Simone later shared on her Instagram Story, per People, that the flowers were the most expensive part. “Who knew flowers were so expensive,” she said. The couple had eight bridesmaids and seven groomsmen, and they exchanged handwritten vows, People says.
Jonathan showers Simone with gifts.
Apparently Jonathan did a little shopping during the Trials to pamper his famous wife. After the start of the competition, Simone shared a photo of Jonathan in a car with several Louis Vuitton bags in the passenger seat in her Instagram Stories. "WHYYYYY," she wrote over top.
In another video, Jonathan can be seen kissing Simone, followed by the two clinking colorful drinks together. After that, Jonathan can be seen holding a pot of pink roses.
What is his net worth?
Jonathan’s net worth is estimated at at $2 million, while Simone’s is $16 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.
His dog has an Instagram account.
Simone and Jonathan are both big dog lovers, and he even has an Instagram account for his pup, Zeus. The dog’s Instagram profile calls him the “Most energetic English Bulldog you’ve ever met.” He also apparently loves “food, chewing on anything I can find, and taking long naps,” according to his bio.
He's close with his family.
Jonathan seems to be close to his mom and older sister. In 2020, he dropped several photos of himself with his mom on IG, writing in the caption, “Happy Mother’s Day to my ❤️ you have been my biggest fan and supporter through it all. I’m so thankful for everything you’ve taught me, enjoy your day beautiful 😌.”
He also shared back in 2018 on Instagram that his sister got him into football.
“Happy birthday sis! Who knows where I’d be if you didn’t force me to start playing football 😂 it’s crazy how close we are even though we 11 years apart, imma keep making you proud! Love you sis ❤️”
They support each other’s athletic careers.
Simone and Jonathan may have packed sports schedules, but they always make time to cheer each other on. “He’s a real man. I just, I love him," Simone told host Hoda Kotb on the TODAY show in January 2021. "He’s an athlete, too, so we really understand each other, and I think that’s why our relationship has been seamless."
Simone shared a ton of Instagram posts during football season in support of her husband. “I’m so proud of the work you’ve put in & the confidence you exude throughout your plays. I love you Jonathan! another football season happy & healthy in the books 🤞🏾,” she wrote in the caption of one post.
“Love supporting you & your dreams,” she said in another post.
The same goes for Jonathan. He watched Simone compete in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 via livestream, since COVID regulations prohibited him from being there IRL. Plus, he joined Simone at the White House when she accepted The Presidential Medal of Freedom in July 2022.
"Words can’t explain how proud i am of you, this has been such a surreal experience to watch you receive your Presidential Medal of Freedom, and be the youngest to ever receive one at that!" he wrote on Instagram at the time. "You motivate me more everyday to be the best version of myself. Such a inspiration, i love you so much babe ❤️."
Jonathan even learned a little bit about gymnastics to better support his wife in her sport.
“I know the routines,” he told People in July 2024. “I'm getting the score down. If I'm going to pay attention to it, I have to lock in. I'm going to go full in… so I had to make sure I did some research so I can talk gymnastics language.”
He added that he loves being Simone's "cheerleader," especially because he can understand all her hard work from an athlete's perspective.
"It's just impressive, and [that] goes to her training mindset and consistency," he told the outlet. "That's the biggest thing, is how consistent.”
They’ve argued over who is the better athlete.
Simone and Jonathan are both professional athletes, and apparently that’s caused some arguments over who is better.
During an appearance on Peacock’s Back That Year Up, Simone said that she and Jonathan have argued over which one of them is the better athlete. “I think we’re good at our own sports,” she said. “We’ve tried to pin each other against [one another] on, like, difficulty, ability and all that stuff. So, at the end of the day, gymnastics is harder—if he agrees or not.”
Simone said that she and Jonathan have “fought over” whether gymnastics or football is harder “a couple of times,” but decided once they got married that they wouldn’t talk about it again. “It keeps coming up every time, but he has done my workout in the gym and he can barely do it, and then I went to their NFL workout and I crushed it,” she said.
Jonathan encouraged Simone to continue therapy.
After Simone pulled out of the Tokyo Olympics with a case of the "twisties," her self-confidence hit a low, she said in her Netflix docuseries Simone Biles Rising, per TODAY. But Jonathan encouraged her to hit the mat once again.
"Post-Tokyo, Jonathan was just like... 'You'll get back to where you were,' and made sure I was staying on top of my training," Simone told the cameras. "He was making sure I was going to my therapy sessions and was trying to do as much as he could, without kind of being bossy, but he was really just like a shoulder to lean on because he saw those dark times after Tokyo."
In turn, Simone's experience inspired Jonathan to go to therapy himself.
"She said, 'I think you need to see someone,' and I'm like, 'See who?'" Jonathan said in a confessional. "It's a humbling thing because you have to go back and look at yourself in the mirror."
They lived apart after their wedding, and are currently building their dream home.
Immediately after the couple's wedding, Jonathan was signed to the Green Bay Packers, meaning he'd have to relocate to Wisconsin. However, Simone remained in Texas to ramp up training for the 2023 U.S. Classic and U.S. Championships, according to Biography.
“It’s been different,” Simone told TODAY in 2024. “But least we’re both busy focusing on our respective sports, so it’s been nice.”
Simone and Jonathan are currently building their forever home in Texas, per People, and Simone has been documenting the process on social media.
The massive home has a beautiful patio that overlooks the water, as well as spacious bedrooms and lots of natural light, according to Simone’s IG stories.
Jonathan recently got a tattoo in honor of his wife.
On July 6, Simone shared a photo of Jonathan’s hand to her Instagram Story, which featured an “S” on his left ring finger in an apparent nod to his wife, per E! News.
Simone captioned the photo with two screaming face emojis, two red heart emojis, and two fingers crossed emojis.
He’s going to the Olympic Games to support her.
Jonathan should technically be in NFL training camp during the 2-24 Summer Olympics, but the Bears granted him time off so he can cheer on his wife, according to Simone.
"The Bears are actually granting him a couple days off from training camp, so he'll be there," Simone told People, adding that Jonathan would be at the Games “for just a short little time."
“I think it's super exciting that we get to be in each other's elements and supporting each other's dreams and goals,” she added. “It is these memories that we make that we'll never get back."
After she made the Olympic team for the third time, Jonathan took to Instagram to give his wife a sweet shoutout on Instagram.
"No words can describe how proud of you i am baby 🤎 " he wrote in the caption. "Just knowing all the work that you put in and everything that you’ve been through, and to still come back and be as dominant as ever, i was speechless."
"I’m so thankful to be [a part] of this journey with you, and i can’t wait to be able to watch you out there in Paris. I’m so happy for you babe!!!! 🇫🇷🇫🇷🇫🇷," he continued. "Cheers to going to your third Olympic Games!!!!!! Just sounds so surreal being able to say my wife is the best to EVER do it, how did i get so lucky 😌 I love you so much 🤞🏽🤞🏽.”
Jonathan was also there to see his wife totally crush the competition at the Trials. After she aced her uneven bars routine, Jonathan leaped to his feet to cheer for his wife. He could also be seen clapping enthusiastically and pumping his fists.
The Biles family was ON THEIR FEET for Simone Biles’ uneven bars. 👏 #USAGTrials24 pic.twitter.com/WC2yC8iqob
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) July 1, 2024
Simone has defended him after his controversial comments about their relationship.
In December 2023, Jonathan found himself in hot water after making some spicy comments about his relationship on The Pivot podcast. After sharing that he didn't know who Simone was when she slid into his DMs, Jonathan said he believes he's the "catch" in their relationship.
"I always say that the men are the catch," he said, adding that he was "fighting" against his natural feeling of being "afraid to commit."
At the time, Jonathan said he was "unbothered" by the backlash, posting the comment alongside a sweet wedding pic of him and Simone.
And, in an April 16 episode of the Call Her Daddy podcast, Simone said her husband’s comments about her were taken out of context and overanalyzed. “He never said I wasn't a catch," she said. "He said he was a catch because he is. I've never met a man like him. A lot of people that meet him are like, 'Oh my gosh. I want a man like that, like Jonathan,'” Simone told host Alex Cooper.
Initially, she found the comments funny. "I thought it was hilarious what people were saying divorce him, divorce him. All of this crazy stuff," she said. "And, like, he doesn't even like to say divorce. So I thought it was hilarious at first, and then they hurt my feelings."
Eventually, the haters got to her. "One night, I broke down, and I'm like, 'Why are you guys talking about my husband like this?' That really hurt that they were talking about my husband like that. Because for me, it's like talk about me all you want, but don't come for my family," she said.
Simone called her husband the "sweetest," adding that she's "never met a man like him. He still opens my doors."
The Dancing With the Stars alum later posted a funny TikTok about the whole situation, firing back at people who say she should leave her husband. In the video, she held up a piece of tape to the camera, repeating the audio, “It’s for your mouth. Let me know if you need a bigger piece.”
"To all my Twitter finger friends & etc. #fyp #sorrynotsorry #mindyourbusiness,” she captioned the clip.
And just a day after taking home first prize at the 2024 Core Hydration Gymnastics Classic on May 18, Simone gave a final notice to critics of her marriage.
"I'm going to quickly address this, the joke was never a joke!" Simone wrote on her Instagram Stories, per People. "Y'all are blatantly being disrespectful to my relationship & my husband. So I'm gonna go ahead and say this one time. Respectfully, f*ck off."
"[And] if you keep commenting or tweeting at me I'm just going to block you. Simple as that,” she added. "And no I don't need to touch grass or whatever tf y'all suggest...."
Simone did give a shout-out to all the fans who have been hyping her relationship up, saying she appreciates the support.
Go clear up those boundaries, Simone! Love to see it!
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