Last Updated on October 29, 2026 by Mariah Miranda
Jonathan Owens is an American professional football player who plays as a safety for the Indianapolis Colts in the National Football League (NFL). Born on July 22, 1995, in St. Louis, Missouri, Owens developed his football career at Missouri Western State University before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2018.
Beyond football, Owens is widely known for his marriage to Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles. The couple married in April 2023 and have frequently supported each other’s sporting careers. Owens also comes from a close-knit family that includes his mother, Arthurine Cannon, and older sister, Chanel Bady. His stepfather, Nathaniel Cannon, who raised him from childhood, died in 2017. Although Owens and Biles have publicly discussed starting a family, they have not announced having children.
Jonathan Owens’s Wife: Who Is Simone Biles?
Jonathan Owens is married to Simone Biles, an American artistic gymnast widely regarded as one of the greatest athletes in gymnastics history.
The couple began dating in 2020 after meeting through the exclusive dating application Raya during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to interviews published by People magazine and Go Long, Biles made the first move by sending Owens a message after they connected online.
At the time, Owens was playing professional football for the Houston Texans, while Biles was already an internationally recognized Olympic champion.
Interestingly, Owens later revealed that he had not initially realized how famous Biles was because he had rarely followed gymnastics competitions.
After exchanging messages, they arranged to meet in person and quickly developed a close relationship.
The pandemic allowed them to spend considerable time together because their professional schedules had temporarily become less demanding.
In August 2020, Biles publicly confirmed their relationship by sharing photographs of the couple on Instagram.
After nearly two years together, Owens proposed on February 14, 2022, and Biles announced their engagement the following day.
They eventually married in April 2023, beginning a new chapter of their relationship.
Who Is Simone Biles?
Simone Arianne Biles was born on March 14, 1997, in Columbus, Ohio, United States.
She is an American artistic gymnast who has won 11 Olympic medals, including seven gold medals, making her the most decorated American Olympic gymnast in history.
Biles first achieved worldwide recognition during the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, where she won four gold medals and one bronze medal.
She continued competing internationally and returned to the Olympic stage at the Paris 2024 Games.
During the Paris Olympics, Biles won three gold medals and one silver medal, further establishing her position among the greatest gymnasts of all time.
Her achievements also include numerous World Artistic Gymnastics Championships titles.
Beyond her sporting accomplishments, Biles has become an influential public figure through her advocacy for mental health awareness and athlete well-being.
She has frequently credited Owens with supporting her throughout the pressures associated with elite gymnastics.
When Did Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles Get Married?
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles officially married on April 22, 2023, during a courthouse ceremony in Houston, Texas.
The couple initially celebrated their marriage through an intimate civil ceremony before organizing a larger destination wedding.
On May 6, 2023, they held a second wedding celebration in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, attended by approximately 144 guests.
The destination ceremony included relatives, friends and other people who had supported them throughout their relationship.
According to People magazine, Biles wore a custom wedding gown, while Owens selected a coordinated formal outfit.
The celebration took place in a coastal setting and included several traditional wedding activities.
Biles has publicly expressed appreciation for the role her parents played in helping organize the wedding.
The couple celebrated their third wedding anniversary in April 2026.
Jonathan Owens’s Children: Does He Have Any Kids?
As of now, Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles have not publicly announced having any children together.
Although the couple regularly discusses family life and their desire to become parents, there is no verified public information confirming that they have welcomed a son or daughter.
Both athletes have explained that they hope to start a family after achieving additional personal and professional goals.
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles’s Plans to Have Children
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles have openly discussed their desire to become parents.
During an August 2024 appearance on NBC’s Today show, Biles explained that she and Owens frequently talked about having children.
She said her husband was especially enthusiastic about fatherhood and would have liked to start a family earlier.
However, both athletes wanted to accomplish certain professional goals before welcoming children.
In an August 2024 interview with People magazine, Owens confirmed that having children was part of their future plans.
He also discussed how he would approach raising children if they eventually followed their parents into sports.
Owens explained that he would support their individual interests rather than pressure them to become football players or gymnasts.
During the 2025 Kentucky Derby, the couple again discussed their plans to build a family in an interview with E! News.
Biles reiterated that becoming a mother remained one of her personal ambitions.
Although these statements confirm their interest in parenthood, no reliable announcement of a pregnancy or childbirth has been established in the recent coverage reviewed.
Jonathan Owens’s Parents: Who Are His Mother and Father?
Jonathan Owens was raised in St. Louis, Missouri, by his mother, Arthurine Cannon, and his stepfather, Nathaniel Cannon.
His mother played an especially important role in his education and athletic development, while Nathaniel served as a father figure throughout his childhood.
According to a detailed January 2024 interview published by Go Long, Nathaniel married Arthurine in 2001 and had been known to Jonathan as his father since he was approximately five years old.
Jonathan Owens’s Mother: Arthurine Cannon
Jonathan Owens’s mother is Arthurine Cannon, whose name is confirmed in his official Missouri Western State University football biography.
Arthurine raised Owens in St. Louis and placed considerable importance on education, discipline and perseverance.
According to the Jonathan Owens Foundation, she encouraged her son to take school seriously because a professional sporting career was never guaranteed.
Her guidance helped Owens develop strong academic habits while pursuing his football ambitions.
He attended Christian Brothers College High School, a private school in St. Louis, where he excelled in football and basketball.
In a June 2019 profile published by Revenge of the Birds, Arthurine was credited with making financial sacrifices to support her son’s attendance at the school.
She also encouraged him to continue his education at Missouri Western State University.
Owens developed a particularly close relationship with his mother because of the challenges she experienced while raising her family.
Arthurine has lived with polymyositis, a rare inflammatory muscle disease that can cause weakness and difficulties with movement.
According to the Jonathan Owens Foundation, her resilience despite these challenges became an important influence on her son’s personal philosophy.
In his January 2024 interview with Go Long, Owens reflected on how his mother’s determination helped him overcome difficulties during his football career.
He also credited her with motivating him to continue working after injuries and setbacks threatened his professional ambitions.
His appreciation for Arthurine has remained visible through social media tributes and public discussions about his upbringing.
Jonathan Owens’s Father: Nathaniel Cannon
Jonathan Owens’s stepfather was Nathaniel Cannon, also known as Nathan Cannon.
According to Go Long’s January 2024 profile, Nathaniel married Owens’s mother in 2001 and helped raise Jonathan from approximately five years old.
Owens regarded Nathaniel as his father, and the two shared a close relationship throughout his childhood.
Nathaniel had an interest in sports and had played basketball during his younger years.
He supported Jonathan’s athletic development and encouraged him as he progressed through high school and college football.
Unfortunately, Nathaniel died on August 17, 2017, shortly before Owens began his final college football season.
According to reporting cited by Go Long, Nathaniel was found fatally shot in St. Louis at the age of 52.
The circumstances surrounding his death were not conclusively established in the reporting.
His death was a devastating experience for Owens, who had depended on him for guidance and encouragement.
Despite the emotional difficulty, Owens returned to football shortly after his stepfather’s funeral.
He became determined to pursue a professional career and provide additional support for his mother.
During his final college season, Owens produced some of the strongest performances of his career, helping him earn an opportunity with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018.
Although Nathaniel did not live to see Owens play in the NFL, his influence remains an important part of the player’s personal story.
Reliable public sources have not clearly identified Owens’s biological father separately from the stepfather who raised him.
Jonathan Owens’s Siblings: Does He Have Brothers or Sisters?
Jonathan Owens has an older sister named Chanel Bady, who has been publicly identified in numerous biographical articles and social media posts.
The siblings share a close relationship, and Owens has credited Chanel with encouraging him to begin playing football during childhood.
Some secondary biographical websites also identify older brothers within the extended Cannon family. However, their exact relationships to Owens have not been consistently established through official football biographies.
Jonathan Owens’s Older Sister: Chanel Bady
Chanel Bady is Jonathan Owens’s older sister and one of the most publicly recognized members of his family.
According to reporting published by Elle and EssentiallySports, Chanel is approximately 11 years older than Jonathan.
Despite the age difference, the siblings developed a close relationship during their upbringing in St. Louis.
Chanel played a particularly important role in introducing Owens to organized football.
In a birthday message shared on Instagram in 2018, Owens credited his sister with encouraging him to attend football practice when he was younger.
That decision eventually helped him discover the sport that would become his professional career.
Owens later expressed appreciation for Chanel’s encouragement and explained that their relationship remained strong despite their age difference.
According to secondary biographical reporting, Chanel has worked as a surgical technologist and has children of her own.
She has also appeared in family photographs shared by Jonathan during important personal milestones.
Chanel attended the wedding celebrations of Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles in 2023.
Although her professional and personal life has remained relatively private, her influence on her younger brother’s football journey is well documented.
Does Jonathan Owens Have Any Brothers?
Some secondary biographical publications identify additional older brothers in Jonathan Owens’s extended family, including a man named Nathan Cannon Jr.
However, the exact number of brothers and their biological or stepfamily relationships have not been consistently confirmed through official university records or firsthand interviews.
Consequently, Chanel Bady remains the sibling whose identity and relationship to Owens are most clearly established in reliable public reporting.
Jonathan Owens’s Extended Family Through Simone Biles
Through his marriage to Simone Biles, Jonathan Owens also became connected to the gymnast’s well-known family.
Biles was raised by her adoptive parents, Ronald Biles and Nellie Biles, in Spring, Texas.
Ronald is Simone’s biological grandfather, while Nellie is her grandmother by marriage. The couple adopted Simone and her younger sister, Adria, during childhood.
Owens has developed a close relationship with his wife’s family and has attended major sporting events alongside them.
During the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he traveled to France to support Biles and watched her competitions with Ronald, Nellie and other relatives.
His presence during the Olympics demonstrated the importance he places on supporting his wife’s ambitions.
The extended family also includes Simone’s brothers and sisters and her niece, Ronni Louise Biles, who was born in November 2022.
Ronni is the daughter of Simone’s brother, Ronald Biles Jr., and his wife, Samantha.
Although Owens and Biles frequently celebrate family milestones, Ronni is their niece, not their daughter.
Jonathan Owens’s Early Life and Family Background
Jonathan Owens was born on July 22, 1995, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Growing up, he developed interests in basketball, football and other athletic activities.
His mother strongly emphasized academic achievement, while his older sister encouraged him to begin playing organized football.
He attended Christian Brothers College High School, where he developed into a talented defensive player.
Owens earned all-conference and all-district recognition and helped the school reach the Missouri state championship game.
He also participated in basketball for three years, demonstrating his versatility as an athlete.
After graduating, Owens accepted an opportunity to play college football at Missouri Western State University.
During his college career, he pursued academic studies related to physical therapy and eventually earned a degree in exercise science.
He also earned recognition on the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Academic Honor Roll.
Jonathan Owens’s College Football and NFL Career
Jonathan Owens played college football at Missouri Western State University from 2013 through 2017.
After redshirting during his first season, he developed into one of the program’s leading defensive players.
During his senior season in 2017, Owens recorded 95 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
His performances earned second-team All-MIAA recognition, and he was named Missouri Western’s Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
Although he was not selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, Owens signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent.
His first professional season was disrupted by a serious knee injury, and he faced additional challenges establishing himself in the league.
In September 2019, he joined the Houston Texans, where he gradually earned opportunities on special teams and defense.
Owens later played for the Green Bay Packers in 2023 and the Chicago Bears during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
His perseverance eventually helped him establish a lengthy NFL career despite beginning at a Division II college football program.
Jonathan Owens’s Move to the Indianapolis Colts in 2026
On March 17, 2026, Jonathan Owens signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an unrestricted free agent.
The move represented a new chapter in his professional football career after two seasons with the Chicago Bears.
According to the Colts’ official announcement, Owens had appeared in 82 NFL games through the 2025 season.
He joined Indianapolis as an experienced safety and special teams contributor, wearing jersey number 38.
Following his signing, Simone Biles publicly celebrated his achievement and expressed excitement about spending time in Indianapolis.
In September 2026, Biles told People magazine that she planned to relocate temporarily to Indianapolis to support her husband during the NFL season.
The couple also maintained their primary residence in Texas, where they completed construction of a custom-built waterfront home in November 2025.
Owens has explained that his wife’s discipline and achievements continue motivating him to improve as a professional athlete.
Jonathan Owens’s Foundation and Family Values
Jonathan Owens has also used his professional football career to support community development through the Jonathan Owens Foundation.
The foundation focuses on helping young people develop resilience, confidence and opportunities to succeed.
According to its official website, the organization was inspired partly by Arthurine Cannon’s strength while overcoming significant personal and physical challenges.
Owens hopes to encourage young people from St. Louis and other communities to pursue education and meaningful personal goals.
His charitable interests reflect the values established during his upbringing and the importance he places on family, perseverance and community support.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jonathan Owens’s Family
Who is Jonathan Owens’s girlfriend?
Jonathan Owens is married to Simone Biles, the American Olympic gymnastics champion. They began dating in 2020.
Who is Jonathan Owens’s wife?
His wife is Simone Biles, an American artistic gymnast who has won 11 Olympic medals, including seven gold medals.
When did Jonathan Owens marry Simone Biles?
Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles married on April 22, 2023, in Houston, Texas. They held a second wedding celebration in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in May 2023.
Does Jonathan Owens have children?
As of now, Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles have not publicly confirmed having any children together.
Are Simone Biles and Jonathan Owens planning to have children?
Yes. Both athletes have publicly expressed their desire to have children after achieving additional personal and professional goals.
Who is Jonathan Owens’s mother?
Jonathan Owens’s mother is Arthurine Cannon, who raised him in St. Louis and emphasized education, discipline and perseverance.
Who is Jonathan Owens’s father?
His stepfather was Nathaniel Cannon, who raised him from approximately five years old. Nathaniel died in August 2017. His biological father’s identity has not been clearly established in the reliable sources reviewed.
How many siblings does Jonathan Owens have?
His older sister, Chanel Bady, is publicly confirmed. Some secondary biographies mention additional older brothers, but their exact relationships have not been consistently verified.
Who is Jonathan Owens’s sister?
His older sister is Chanel Bady, who encouraged him to begin playing football during childhood.
Does Jonathan Owens have a brother?
Some secondary biographical accounts identify Nathan Cannon Jr. as a member of his extended family, but official records do not clearly establish the full sibling relationship.
Where was Jonathan Owens born?
Jonathan Owens was born on July 22, 1995, in St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
Which college did Jonathan Owens attend?
He attended Missouri Western State University, where he played college football from 2013 through 2017.
Which NFL team does Jonathan Owens play for?
Jonathan Owens plays safety for the Indianapolis Colts, who signed him in March 2026.
Mariah Miranda is a dedicated sports journalist specializing in comprehensive NFL coverage, playbook strategy, and team analytics. From offseason Draft planning and free-agency moves to weekly matchup breakdowns and playoff pushes, she delivers clear, data-driven analysis of every division in the league. Driven by a deep understanding of football tactics and locker-room dynamics, Mariah brings fans closer to the gridiron with sharp commentary and player updates.
