Simone Biles and Jonathan OwensSimone Biles and Jonathan Owens (Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)
For days, Simone Biles took the heat alone. The Olympic legend stirred up a firestorm after a heated exchange with OutKick contributor Riley Gaines over transgender inclusion in women’s sports.

As the debate exploded across social media, many fans noticed one person who stayed noticeably silent- Biles’ husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens.

But on Tuesday, Owens finally made it clear where he stands. With a quiet but powerful move, he took a screenshot of Biles’ public apology and shared it on his Instagram Story, adding three white heart emojis. No long caption, no speech, just a simple gesture of solidarity that spoke volumes.

Owens Show Support

Olympic Gold medalist Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens of Chicago Bears pose for a photo during the first half between the Chicago Bulls and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the United Center on November 07, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois.Simone Biles, and Jonathan Owens (Image Credit: Getty Images)

Biles and Gaines clashed after Biles criticized Gaines for her activism, suggesting she stop “bullying” the trans community and instead “uplift” them. “Straight up sore loser,” Biles tweeted at Gaines. She also floated the idea of creating a transgender category in sports as a possible solution. Her comments drew sharp backlash online, with critics accusing her of disregarding fairness in women’s athletics.

 

By Tuesday, Biles took a different tone. In a follow-up post on X, she clarified her stance, acknowledging the complexities of balancing competitive equity and inclusion. “It didn’t help for me to get personal with Riley, which I apologize for,” Biles wrote. “These are sensitive, complicated issues that I truly don’t have the answers or solutions to, but I believe it starts with empathy and respect.”

Jonathan Owens Insta Story (Photo Via Instagram/@jowens)
Owens didn’t issue a formal statement. Instead, he backed his wife in the most personal way, by publicly acknowledging her vulnerability and echoing her words through his platform. The couple has been together since 2020 and got married in 2023. Their bond has remained strong through public highs and controversies alike.

Earlier in 2024, Owens left Bears training camp temporarily to support Biles during the Summer Olympics. “My wife is a warrior,” he told reporters at the time. “I’m just so happy and proud for her.”

Owens’ quiet show of support on Tuesday carried that same energy- unwavering, loyal, and grounded in their shared belief in each other. Amid all the noise, his message landed with clarity that he’s standing by Simone, no matter what.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence
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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’