Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Brittany Miller

NFL commentator calls Simone Biles’ husband ‘Mr Biles’ during football game

Getty Images

Your support helps us to tell the story

In my reporting on women's reproductive rights, I've witnessed the critical role that independent journalism plays in protecting freedoms and informing the public.

Your support allows us to keep these vital issues in the spotlight. Without your help, we wouldn't be able to fight for truth and justice.

Every contribution ensures that we can continue to report on the stories that impact lives

Kelly Rissman

Kelly Rissman

US News Reporter

Jonathan Owens has earned a new nickname for himself after playing his first game as a member of the Chicago Bears.

On Sunday, September 8, the team competed against the Tennessee Titans, with the Bears taking home a win with a final score of 17-24. During the game, Owens scored one of the touchdowns, leading one commentator to call the safety, “Mr Biles,” referring to him by the last name of his wife, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles.

ESPN took to Instagram to post a clip of Owens scoring the touchdown as the commentator can be heard saying, “Mr Biles getting in there.”

“Simone Biles was hyped for her husband Jonathan Owens’ TD,” they captioned the post. Many people were quick to turn to the comments section, with some calling out the moniker. Others compared the couple’s relationship to Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs player, Travis Kelce.

“Calling him Mr Biles on live TV is diabolical,” one comment read while another agreed, writing: “Did He Say Mr Biles, The Disrespect.”

“Mr Biles? Excuse me. That’s extremely disrespectful! Do you call Travis Kelce, Mr Swift?” a third commenter wrote.

However, other commenters viewed the comment as more of a joke, and said it wasn’t worth taking too seriously.

“All the men in their feelings about them saying Mr Biles need to touch grass.......it’s a joke....what is wrong with some of y’all.....y’all didn’t even know who he was until he got with his wife, be for real.....I’m sure that man is not tripping and they said his real name first,” one commenter wrote.

“Be real [nobody knew] who the dude was until they found out he was with Simone Biles …” another commenter claimed.

Biles herself even showed her support for her husband after she reposted the same ESPN clip on her Instagram Story with text across the screen that read, “Touchdown for hubby.”

Earlier this year, Owens was the one supporting his wife as he was able to miss part of NFL training camp to watch her compete in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.

The Chicago Bears safety documented on his Instagram Story his journey to watch his wife compete with Team USA. He was seen sitting near the window seat on a plane. “Coming for you baby!” he wrote. His story continued with various images of the view from the plane and spots in Paris.

Throughout the Women’s Gymnastics final, Owens cheered on his wife from the stands while wearing a shirt with her face on it. He also posted a few images of his view of the stadium from his seat, which was directly next to Biles’ parents.

Before watching her compete in person, the Bears player also documented watching the seven-time gold medalist compete for the Women’s Qualification in gymnastics on television.

“We locked in” text across the screen read as the introduction for Team USA played. The NFL player also showed off various clips of Biles, including one of her on the beam as he wrote “flawless” across the screen, and a clip of her on the vault as he wrote “no words.”

“Let’s gooooooo!!!!!” Owens wrote alongside a video of her strong vault, and of Snoop Dogg showing off a T-shirt with his wife’s face on it.

His last Instagram Story regarding the Olympics showed Biles after she finished her uneven bars routine with text across the screen that read: “Let’s go baby!”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.