Netizens witnessed a special handshake that Jonathan Owens and his wife, Simone Biles, created as a way to cheer him on before his football games. While some loved the handshake, others felt it was a bit much.
Ahead of the National Football League (NFL) game between the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings on December 16, 2024, football player Jonathan Owens was seen sharing a touching moment with his wife, Simone Biles. The couple performed their unique handshake, sealed it with a kiss, and ended it with Owens spanking Biles’ bottom.
On Instagram, the NFL, ESPN, and other sports publications shared images and footage of the sweet gesture, prompting varied reactions from netizens. One person wrote, “The spank at the end tells me they’re gonna last.”
Another humorously advised, “Don’t do that in public lol,” while a third person remarked that the gesture was “more than a handshake.” SportsCenter uploaded the full video on Facebook, showing the couple’s special moment, which led to further comments.
A Facebook user commented, “You see how she looks at him with admiration and love in her eyes. Take notes, ladies.” Another person, less approving, said, “I thought that was cute until she put her booty out there for him to slap. You’re a world record holder lady and a role model for young ladies. [sic]”
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles share a kiss during one of his games in a post uploaded on December 16, 2024 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
Echoing this sentiment, someone else wrote, “Keep it off the field,” while a supporter said, “I like that handshake. I’m stealing that one.” A fan added, “Ok Simone…she [is] not shy at all.”
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles’s “handshake” during one of his games in a post uploaded on December 16, 2024 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
The Chicago Bears shared a reel of the handshake on Facebook, where one person disapproved, “That went from cute to tacky, the man is literally on his job,” and another agreed, “Everything was cool until the unnecessary pat on the butt.”
However, a fan exclaimed, “I love how she’s his biggest cheerleader!” Sharing SportsCenter’s video of the couple on the field, an X user commented, “I love the handshake soo cute,” while another suggested the pair should “get a room!” Meanwhile, someone else focused on a different aspect, noting, “The look of love is in their eyes. Beautiful.”
Despite the heartfelt moment, the handshake did not help Owens’ team, the Chicago Bears, secure a win at the US Bank Stadium. They lost 30-12 to the Minnesota Vikings. This marked the Chicago Bears’ eighth consecutive loss due to an overmatched offense and a weak defense.
Owens’ team is set to face the Detroit Lions on December 22, 2024.
In a 2021 interview, Biles revealed how she and Owens met. After realizing that she and her former boyfriend, fellow gymnast Stacey Ervin Jr., were on different life paths, Biles ended their relationship in the winter of 2020.
She later came across Owens on Raya, formerly a dating app, thought he was cute, and sent him a direct message saying “hi.” When she discovered he was in the Houston area, they started chatting, and within a week or two, they met in person and hung out.
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles during their engagement in a post uploaded on February 15, 2022 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
Biles’ sister, Adria, observed them flirting for about three weeks before stepping in. She took control by grabbing the gymnast’s phone while Owens was FaceTiming her and asked him if he planned to join their family at a lake house trip in Texas.
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens during their engagement in a post uploaded on February 15, 2022 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
The footballer accepted the invitation and arrived with Zeus, his English bulldog. Zeus quickly bonded with Biles’ French bulldog, Lilo. As COVID-19 restrictions eased and the weather improved, the gymnast’s family resumed their Sunday evening dinner tradition, with Owens invited to join them.
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles during their engagement in a post uploaded on February 15, 2022 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
During a July 2021 interview, the football player described his relationship with Biles as “a match made in heaven.” He elaborated, “There’s no better person for me. She loves me, she’s so affectionate. I just love that.”
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles during their engagement in a post uploaded on February 15, 2022 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
The athlete added, “And it’s just so intoxicating seeing how much work she puts into everything.” Owens proposed to Biles the day after Valentine’s Day in 2022. She shared the moment on social media, showing him kneeling as she excitedly said “yes” and jumped into his arms.
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles during their engagement in a post uploaded on February 15, 2022 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
The proposal took place during golden hour at Brenner’s Steakhouse on the Bayou in Houston. Biles captioned her Instagram post, “THE EASIEST YES. I can’t wait to spend forever & ever with you, you’re everything I dreamed of and more! let’s get married FIANCÉ 💍🥺🥲🤎.”
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles during their engagement in a post uploaded on February 15, 2022 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
The couple celebrated the moment with drinks and a kiss. Netizens got a close-up view of her stunning engagement ring.
The gymnast later shared a photo of herself and Owens holding their marriage license in a car, captioned, “Almost time to say ‘I do’ 📄🤍.”
The couple wasted no time tying the knot. On April 22, 2023, Biles shared images from their wedding ceremony, which showed them exchanging vows with an officiant officiating, walking to and from their venue, and celebrating with a kiss.
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles during their civil wedding in a post uploaded on April 22, 2023 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
The post was titled, “I do 🤍 officially owens 🤍.” Their civil ceremony was held at the Harris County Courthouse.
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens during their civil wedding in a post uploaded on April 22, 2023 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
Explaining the timing, Biles said, “We had to get married ‘legally’ here in the U.S. since our wedding will be a destination wedding.”
On May 6, 2023, the couple had a second wedding. Speaking about the preparations, the gymnast admitted it was fun at first but became stressful.
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens during their destination wedding in Cabo, Mexico, in a post uploaded on May 9, 2023 | Source: Instagram/jowens
She shared advice, saying, “So I definitely recommend a wedding planner. Carena Trampe of Amy Abbott Events kept me sane the entire time.”
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens during their destination wedding in Cabo, Mexico, in a post uploaded on May 9, 2023 | Source: Instagram/jowens
A few days later, the couple posted pictures from their Cabo, Mexico, destination wedding, including one of Owens becoming emotional as his bride walked down the aisle.
Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens’ wedding bands during their destination wedding in Cabo, Mexico, in a post uploaded on May 9, 2023 | Source: Instagram/jowens
Fans saw highlights of the event, including the couple jumping the broom, posing with family and groomsmen, dancing, kissing, their wedding rings, and more.
Alongside a list of all those involved in making their special day amazing, Biles titled her carousel, “Mr. & Mrs. Owens 🤍🕊️.”
Simone Biles walking down the aisle with her father during her destination wedding to Jonathan Owens in Cabo, Mexico, in a post uploaded on May 9, 2023 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
The couple’s Cabo, Mexico, destination wedding saw them exchanging vows in front of 144 people.
Jonathan Owens looks emotional during his destination wedding to Simone Biles in Cabo, Mexico, in a post uploaded on May 9, 2023 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
Owens has frequently spoken about his wife, saying during an August 2024 Chicago Bears Live conference that she loves being an NFL wife.
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles during their destination wedding in Cabo, Mexico, in a post uploaded on May 9, 2023 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
He explained, “She’s super excited to be a NFL wife [sic]. That’s one of her favorite things to do.”
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles during their destination wedding in Cabo, Mexico, in a post uploaded on May 9, 2023 | Source: Instagram/simonebiles
The footballer shared that Simone Biles loves being in the stands and watching the games knowing that it’s something her husband loves doing and in that moment it isn’t all about her.
Supporting her husband at his games allows her to take a step back and just be one of the NFL wives in the suites having fun and being normal. The interview was uploaded on X by the footballer’s team.