Jonathan Owens Scores Bears’ First TD of the Season on Blocked Punt

Simone Biles isn’t the only one in her family making headlines lately.

On Sunday afternoon, Jonathan Owens made a significant impact on the field, recovering a blocked punt and returning it for a touchdown. This marked the Chicago Bears’ first touchdown of the season and was Owens’ second career touchdown. His first came last year when he scored on a fumble recovery for the Green Bay Packers during their Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions.

Following the touchdown, Biles, who married Owens in April 2023, expressed her pride on X, formerly known as Twitter, by simply saying, “My heart.” Her heartfelt response showcased the bond between the two as they celebrate each other’s achievements.

Owens’ touchdown provided a much-needed boost for the Bears, who have had a rough start to the season. The debut of Caleb Williams, the No. 1 pick in this year’s NFL draft, had been highly anticipated but began on a shaky note. In the first half against the Tennessee Titans, Williams completed 8 of 14 passes for a mere 54 yards, leaving the Bears trailing 17-3 at halftime. While he showed glimpses of potential with a few good throws, he struggled with overthrows on critical third downs.

A particularly frustrating moment occurred during Chicago’s final possession of the first half. They had started strong, benefiting from a 66-yard kickoff return by DeAndre Carter, but Williams failed to capitalize on the good field position. A completed pass to D.J. Moore was quickly followed by a series of missed opportunities, culminating in a 24-yard field goal by Cairo Santos instead of a touchdown.

However, the tide began to turn when Owens made his play early in the third quarter. After Daniel Hardy successfully blocked a punt from Tennessee’s Ryan Stonehouse, Owens picked up the loose ball at the Tennessee 21-yard line and dashed into the end zone, closing the Titans’ lead to 17-10.

Owens joined the Bears in the offseason, and his relationship with Biles has been a focal point of this football season’s episodes of Hard Knocks. The Bears organization even allowed Owens to temporarily miss part of training camp to support Biles as she competed in the Olympics in Paris. He was present to witness Biles and the U.S. women’s gymnastics team secure the gold medal and to cheer for her as she made history by becoming just the third woman to win back-to-back Olympic all-around titles.

Upon returning to Chicago, Owens celebrated more of Biles’ successes, including her gold medal on the vault and a silver medal on the floor exercise, bringing her total count of Olympic medals to an impressive 11.

As the season progresses, both Biles and Owens continue to make their mark, showcasing their dedication to their respective sports and highlighting the powerful support they provide each other in their professional journeys.