The Chicago Bears were hoping for a change in fortunes after firing Matt Eberflus, marking the first time they had parted ways with a coach midseason. However, they were left humiliated by an injury-hit 49ers, who thrashed them 38-13, confining the Bears to their seventh consecutive loss. This run of form was not on Jonathan Owens’s mind when made the switch from the Packers this year.

The Bears were bad in the defeat. To put into perspective how poor they were, let us remind you that Chicago was outgained 319-4 in the first half for the ninth-largest discrepancy since 1991, managed only one first down, and trailed by 24 points at the break. Things barely improved in the second half, but one player did stand out: Jonathan Owens, Simone Biles’ husband. Owens contributed seven stops and an interception, making him one of the few bright spots in an otherwise forgettable game for the Chicago fans.

In interim coach Thomas Brown’s first game, the Bears’ offense managed just 162 yards, with quarterback Caleb Williams struggling to make any meaningful impact. The Bears allowed 452 yards against the 49ers team. The turnover problems seen all season, came back to haunt them in the second half. Amidst, this disappointing outing, Owens made what could be described as a highlight reel play in the game, at least for the Bears.

Late in the fourth quarter, Owens jumped high to intercept 49ers quarterback Brandon Allen’s pass. This was Owens’ first interception since 2021 as the Bears safety also tallied seven stops.  He has now recorded seven or eight tackles in each of the three games in which he has taken over for the injured Elijah Hicks. This play also drew a reaction from Simone Biles.

Biles reposted a video of his husband’s interception of Allen’s pass on her Instagram story with the caption, “LFG!!!” Later, Owens also posted a snapshot and a video of his interception on his Instagram.

While many fans showed their support for Owens in the comment section, many criticized him for celebrating the interception in a game that the Bears lost badly.

After 13 matches, the Chicago Bears find themselves at the bottom of the NFC North division with a disappointing 4 wins and 9 losses. Hence, some fans didn’t react kindly to Owens’s post and were vocal in their dissension.

Owens’s actions draw mixed reactions despite impressive play

It is clear that larger issues plague the Bears. Eberflus’ firing may have been the right decision, but so far there is nothing to suggest that the franchise would improve by leaps and bounds in the coming weeks. The 25-point blowout against the 49ers made proved that there is a lot of work to be done, to get the team to a competitive level again.

Owens’s form has been a rare bright spot for the Chicago fans and some of them made sure to convey the message in the comment section of his Instagram post. A fan wrote, “Stay in Chicago J.O. you’re the missing piece to the defense 🙏🐻⬇️.” Another fan pointed out, “Don’t leave! You’re killing it as a bear & we love you.”

Owens moved to Chicago from Green Bay, signing a 2-year, $4,750,000 contract with the franchise, including $750,000 signing bonus. Hence, it is clear that he will be staying at the Soldier Field for at least one more season.

Owens made a name for himself last season with Green Bay, playing all 17 games and racking up 74 tackles. He even had a fumble recovery for a touchdown. With the way the Bears defense has been struggling, it’s easy to see why some fans are dreaming about Owens being the guy to turn it all around.

Praising Owens for his contributions this season, a fan wrote, “You really been having a hell of a season JO! Proud of you my boy!” One fan also gave credit to Owens’ athleticism writing, “Look at 36…. He just keeps on making plays!!!” However, not everyone was a fan of Owens’s post, especially in the wake of a seventh straight defeat.

One fan wrote, “In Chicago we don’t celebrate mediocrity! Take s**t bull s**t down.“And yeah, after all the struggles, it’s tough not to feel that frustration. A shaky offense, a defense that hasn’t been able to step up, and another season turning into disappointment. Another fan was blunt in their assessment of Owens’s post, writing, “Lmaoo 13-38 and homie is posting himself cause he caught a Pity interception. Get the f out of here.”

Another fan pointed out, “Look at the scoreline. The team lost, be ashamed.” Another fan took a shot at Owens writing, “Should have stayed a Packer.” These Chicago Bears fans were clearly irked by another painful defeat and perhaps were not too keen on Owens’ celebratory post.

The team will play the Vikings next, who have an 11-2 record this season. It appears the Bears will have go through more tough times before the situation eases, if at all for them.