Remember how Jonathan Owen’s comments about being a “catch” in his marriage with Simone Biles courted controversy? The NFL star was at the receiving end of harsh backlash from fans and Biles had to come to her defense. Now in an ironic twist, fans have flocked to defend Owens after an on-air comment during the Bears’ season opener raised eyebrows.

In a heart-stopping third-quarter play during Sunday’s NFL game between the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears, Owens recovered a blocked punt and ran it back for a touchdown. It sliced the Titans’ lead to 17-10, bringing the Soldier Field crowd back to life after a quiet 17-3 start. Simone, fresh off her four gold medal wins in Paris, couldn’t contain her excitement, hopping on X to post, “I ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK” and “My heart” after watching her husband’s big moment.

But there was something else that became the talking point. During the broadcast, an NFL commentator playfully called Owens “Mr. Biles” after his touchdown. In a video posted on Instagram by ESPN, showing Owens sprinting to the end zone with the crowd going wild, we could hear one commentator say, “Mr. Biles getting in there,” before adding, “Well done by him.”

Although some fans were unhappy with the reference, it goes to show the influence Simone Biles has, especially on the back of a gold medal-laden Paris Olympics. Biles has dominated the sport for years, with 11 Olympic medals and 30 World Championship medals, making her the most decorated gymnast in history

With the “Mr. Biles.’ call out, one can also not help but cast their mind back to Owens’s comments about not knowing Biles when they first met and later saying that he was the “catch” in their relationship.

In an interview last year on the Pivot Podcast on December 19, Owens talked about how he met Biles and the early days of their relationship. He revealed he didn’t know the gymnast before they matched up on a dating app. “She pops up and I’m like, ‘Let me see who this is’ … I had never really paid attention to gymnastics, so it piqued my curiosity.”

If this was not enough to draw fan ire, host Ryan Clark asked Owens whether he considered himself a catch in his relationship, the NFL safety replied, “I always say the men are the catch.” Cue online fan backlash, which prompted Biles to come to her husband’s defense.

Though the ESPN commentator’s “Mr.Biles comment appeared light-hearted, not everyone was amused. Some felt it was a bit disrespectful to Jonathan Owens, with comments hinting that the nickname might overshadow his own accomplishments.

Disrespect or a light-hearted jab? Fans stand for Owens following

Some fans were unhappy that despite Owens’ touchdown, which was the Bears’ first of the season and a game-changer, he wasn’t recognized by name. His score helped narrow the Titans’ lead from 17-3 to 17-10 in the third quarter, and the Bears eventually secured a 24-17 win. Even though he made an impact on the field, the commentator’s mention of Biles put the spotlight more on his connection to the gymnast than his own achievement.

This led to a fan writing, “Called him Mr. Biles… the disrespect.” Owens’ football career, however, speaks for itself. In 2018, he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals, showing his versatility as a safety and on special teams. It wasn’t until his move to the Houston Texans in 2020 that his talents got a bigger platform, earning him respect for his hard work and dedication. Now, with a two-year contract signed in March 2024 with the Chicago Bears, Owens is continuing to prove his worth in the league, even if his name isn’t always in the headlines.

Another fan shared a sentiment along these same lines and wrote, “Yeah that’s Mr.Biles line was unnecessary smh he is a professional athlete which makes him successful in his own right! Don’t play him like that.”

As many NFL fans would know Owens and Biles aren’t the only celebrity couple in the league. Keeping others aside, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift garnered a lot of attention last season. But we didn’t hear any commentator refer to Travis as Mr. Swift. This led to another fan chiming in as they wrote, “Mr. Biles? Excuse me. That’s extremely disrespectful! Do you call Travis Kelce, Mr. Swift? 😡”

A couple of fans even went ahead and called for the commentator to be removed from his role for disrespecting Owens. One fan wrote, “Disrespectful, don’t call this man “Mr. Biles”! Announcer should be fired effective immediately! SMH.” One more added, “Whichever commentator said “Mr. Biles” should be fired.

It’s clear that Owens deserves recognition for his game and career. However, Simone Biles’ fame overshadows him—her Instagram boasts 12.8 million followers compared to Owens’ 668k.

Still, Owens doesn’t seem to take offense. His Instagram bio proudly states, “Wife: Simone Biles,” reflecting his pride in being married to the gymnastics legend. While Owens might not always get the spotlight, his achievements on the field are no less impressive and deserve their own recognition.

While there is nothing wrong in referencing Owens’s better half, it has to be understood that the same treatment isn’t metted out to other NFL players in relationships with popular names.

Now, take Travis Kelce, for example. The Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end is indeed Taylor Swift’s boyfriend. While Swift often grabs headlines for cheering on Kelce from the stands, her presence adds a significant amount of attention and respect. Travis is the center of attention in his own way for what he does on the field.

One fan pointed out, “Calling him Mr. Biles is nasty work; y’all gotta stop that disrespect. At the end of the day, he’s a man—let’s keep it classy. Great touchdown, Mr. Owens 🫡.”

On the flip side of the coin, Jonathan Owens, who in one way or another gives his input in impactful performances on the field, sometimes goes unnoticed. This was to be his recent touchdown, hence the talk about being called “Mr. Biles.” Well, the fans are firmly behind Owens and recognize his efforts in the season opener for Bears. Maybe a few more of such performances would lead him to be recognized for his achievements on the field.