“Unfortunately, we’re actually long distance,” Simone Biles revealed last September. Less than a week after she and Jonathan Owens tied the knot in May 2023, the lovebirds found themselves on opposite ends of the country—Jonathan suiting up for the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and Simone back on the gymnastics stage. The distance was, as Simone put it, “different.” Now, after spending an offseason and a summer in the City of Love together, duty calls for Owens. This time, marching on to the Bears’ Soldier Field.  

In 2024, Jonathan Owens signed a lucrative two-year deal with the Chicago Bears worth $4.5 million. Although Simone Biles appreciated the Packers’ hospitality – having attended quite a few games last season – she was thrilled about her husband’s new Chicago gig. Why? Simone breathed a sigh of relief at the prospect of not having to endure long connecting flights to see him.

“I’m so excited about not having a connecting flight to go & see my husband hahahahaaha,” Biles tweeted.

But come the Paris Olympics, the roles were reversed, and Owens, who was offered some time off from training camp, flew to the French capital to watch his wife make history as the most decorated American gymnast. With the Summer Games ticked off her schedule and hints about her future (“I’m getting really old”), many would’ve expected the 27-year-old to make frequent appearances to support her husband throughout the NFL season. However, if her new TikTok video is anything to go by, the trials of long-distance love might still come back to challenge them!

In a ‘Get Ready With Me’ video, Simone Biles shared that her busy schedule will likely keep her from attending every Bears game, leaving her uncertain about how much she can be there for Owens this season. She said,

“I’m not sure how many games I’ll be able to make because, in a few weeks, we go on tour,” referring to her busy schedules at Athleta Presents Gold Over America Tour, which she is headlining. In a celebration of world-class gymnasts, Biles will be joined by the likes of her Team USA teammates Jade Carey, Jordan Chiles, Hezly Rivera, and Borady Malone, to name a few. The Gold Over America Tour (GOAT) will feature gymnastics and athletic brilliance brought to the audience in a pop concert-style spectacle with “inspirational messages of hope, strength, resilience, and determination.” Simone continued,

“I think right now we’re doing about 32 stops [on the tour].” 

Coincidence? Starting on September 16 and wrapping up on November 3, Simone Biles explained her plans for the next couple of weeks. And her schedule is jam-packed. Chicago fans, however, are in for a special treat on September 29 when the tour hits the Windy City. On the same day, Jonathan Owens and the Chicago Bears will be going up against the Los Angeles Rams at home in Week 4 of the season. As for the end of Biles’ tour, that’ll coincide with Week 9 of the season – the midpoint.

Considering the Bears will still have eight more games after Week 9 away clash against the Arizona Cardinals, Simone Biles will still have the second half of the season to attend. That is if the 27-year-old doesn’t have anything planned. Moreover, if Owens and his team make it to the NFL post-season, the gymnast will have more opportunities to cheer for her husband. Until then, we can expect Biles to send more messages to Owens like this one from last season: “Long distance isn’t easy, but seeing you play your heart out is so worth it. I’m so proud of you, baby.”

That’s not to say Simone will miss the entire first half of the season. Seeing as the Bears’ first game is on September 8 against the Tennessee Titans – and they have a preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs scheduled for August 22 – there’s a high probability of Biles making it to those matchups. Especially considering her recent appearance at Soldier Field during the Bears’ clash against the Cincinnati Bengals, where the 11-time Olympic medalist started a little bit of a controversy with a fashion faux pas.

The 2023 NFL season witnessed Simone Biles donning quite a few customized outfits to support Jonathan Owens during Packers games. She started this season with the same enthusiasm, walking into Soldier Field wearing a black and white jacket featuring pictures of her husband playing football. But considering this is Owens’ first season with the Bears, the jacket didn’t have any photos of Owns wearing the Bears colors. Instead, pictures of Owens in Packers jerseys adorned the outfit. Why was that particularly controversial? Because the Packers are one of the Bears’ fiercest rivals.

Never mind the faux pas; Simone Biles got to watch her husband and the Chicago team win 27-3 against the Bengals, setting themselves up well for the 2024 season. Speaking of the Bears, last year, Jonathan Owens missed Simone Biles’ epic return to gymnastics and her sixth world all-around title. But this Olympic year, he was determined not to miss a beat. Not only did he manage to show up for her performances, but his team even gave him special permission to fly to Paris to support her!

Simone Biles shared her pinnacle moment in Paris with Jonathan Owens — and he even got a taste of gold!

Jonathan Owens was right by Simone Biles’ side at every crucial moment leading up to and during the Paris Olympics. After the US Olympic trials, Biles told USA Today, “The Bears are actually granting him a couple days off from training camp, so he’ll be there, yes. For just a short little time.” And Jonathan made every second count — cheering alongside her family, taking notes, and even getting to wear her gold medal!

Reflecting on her success, Jonathan told NBC Sports Chicago, “Words can’t even describe it. I just think, ‘How did I get so lucky that this is my wife and I get to see her at the pinnacle of their sport.’” For Jonathan, witnessing Simone’s prowess on the global stage in Paris was a dream come true. Although he had to return to NFL training before the floor exercise final, where Simone clinched a silver medal, he supported her from afar: “I was overjoyed for her, all of her accomplishments that she’s made, and just being a face for gymnastics, man,” he said.

With their schedules pulling them in different directions again, do you think they’ll navigate the long-distance challenge as smoothly as they have in the past? Share your thoughts in the comments below!