Jonathan Owen’s NFL journey has been one of perseverance. “Undrafted to year 7!!! Ain’t how you start it’s how you finish,” Owens posted on May 25, wearing the Chicago Bears jersey. However, the confidence that the 29-year-old exudes today came after overcoming hardships. In fact, his father’s untimely demise severely affected the football star.

“NFL was always a dream, but I had a tragedy.” Owens confessed while discussing his NFL journey in an exclusive interview with Fox 32 Chicago. The strategy in question was the untimely demise of the footballer’s stepfather. The former Green Bay Packers player was at practice when he received the devastating news. What worse? He didn’t die from natural causes.

“My dad was sh*t and ki***d in on robbery… going into my senior year,” Owens told Fox 32 Chicago. The undrafted NFL aspirant grappled for an explanation as to why someone would do this. However, to this day, no one has been able to pinpoint what transpired to lead to the tragic outcome. Yet, Jonathan Owens barely had time to grieve the death of the man he called dad since 5.

Instead, he took the grief and turned it into determination. “It was just one of those moments for me where it just gave me a different boost of energy. Because now I’m like, you know, I really want to get my mom in a better situation, my family in a better situation.” said the NFL safety. Simone Biles‘ husband explained that he went to have the best year in his college football career.

The only goal for Jonathan Owens was to get into the NFL, and so he worked tirelessly. However, his father’s demise wasn’t the only thing that motivated the Chicago Bears player to excel. The 29-year-old’s mother suffers from Polymyositis, a debilitating muscle disease that gradually deteriorates the body. Yet his determination wasn’t the only thing that helped Owen achieve this success.

How Simone Biles played a role in motivating Jonathan Owens

After college, Owens signed with the then 90-man Arizona Cardinals roster. However, just three weeks into organized team activity sessions, Owens tore his meniscus. This came shortly after Owens had previously torn his ACL. The prolonged recovery and a new wave of recruits suddenly narrowed the football safety’s career opportunities, adding a new dimension to his struggles.

“Not getting a chance to get out there my rookie year, it really took me back,” the NFL star confessed to Go Long. Thankfully, he found a place with the Houston Texans in 2019. And while the COVID-19 pandemic would throw another wrench in the works, it was during this time his relationship with Simone Biles blossomed. As sports came back, Biles became a regular at his games.

It was during this time, that despite her disastrous Tokyo Olympic camping, Simone Biles continued to support her husband. His relationship with other elite athletes and supporting one another through the hardships only helped Jonathan Owens improve. It’s a tradition they’ve kept alive even today. Now, seven years after his father’s death, it’s safety the Chicago Bears safety has achieved the goal that arose out of a tragedy.