From undrafted free agent to NFL safety and Olympic spouse
In short: Jonathan Owens' path to the NFL was anything but a straight line. An undrafted free agent who spent years oscillating between practice squads and injured reserve lists, he eventually carved out a professional career while navigating one of the most high-profile personal lives in modern sports.
Owens entered the professional landscape as an undrafted free agent in 2018, signing with the Arizona Cardinals. His early career was defined by perseverance; he spent his entire first season on injured reserve after being waived due to injury just before the season began. This pattern of being waived and re-signed continued through his tenures with the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers, illustrating the precarious nature of NFL roster spots for non-drafted players.
Despite these hurdles, Owens achieved significant milestones. While with the Houston Texans in 2021, he secured a two-year, $1.175 million deal and recorded his first career interception and fumble recovery during an upset win against the Los Angeles Chargers. He later found success with the Green Bay Packers, scoring his first touchdown on Thanksgiving Day 2023, and continued his momentum with the Chicago Bears in 2024, where he scored a touchdown on a returned blocked punt.
Off the field, Owens' trajectory is intertwined with global sports icon Simone Biles. The couple announced their engagement in February 2022 and married in April 2023. His support of her career was publicly noted when he was granted time off from Chicago Bears training camp specifically to watch her compete at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Owens' journey reflects a transition from a pre-physical therapy student aiming to be a doctor to a resilient professional athlete.
Owens is currently slated to join the Indianapolis Colts under a one-year contract starting in March 2026. His career serves as a case study in professional longevity, moving through five different NFL franchises—the Cardinals, Texans, Packers, Bears, and eventually the Colts—while maintaining a high level of academic and athletic commitment throughout his development.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Jonathan Owens
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-jonathan-owens.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
