Does Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens support trans-identifying men destroying the safety and fairness of women’s sports? It’s a question worth asking given that his wife, Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, is on a pro-tranny jihad to undermine the very athletic system that propelled her to fame.
The entire controversy erupted this past weekend when Biles attacked former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines over her advocacy to ensure only female athletes are competing in women’s sports. While quoting a tweet by Gaines, who criticized a Minnesota high school for hyping a softball team whose “star player is a boy,” Biles called the former University of Kentucky swimmer “truly sick” and a “[s]traight up sore loser” — because she “lost a race” to a trans-identifying man.
“You should be uplifting the trans community and perhaps finding a way to make sports inclusive OR creating a new avenue where trans feel safe in sports. Maybe a transgender category in ALL sports!! But instead … you bully them,” Biles wrote. She also attacked Gaines’ “body size” in a separate post.
As The Federalist’s Jordan Boyd aptly noted, “One would think a woman who was preyed upon by a man who repeatedly took advantage of her would not oppose a movement that was built on the promise to protect other women. Yet, the gymnastics champion, who touts the “power of she” and takes public issue with negative discussions about someone’s build, did exactly that and more.”
While Biles’ outburst puts her on par with other reality-challenged athletes like former U.S.A. soccer star Megan Rapinoe, it also brings Owens into the conversation, who has thus far remained silent throughout the ordeal.
During an episode of her “Gaines for Girls with Riley Gaines” podcast responding to Biles’ attacks, Gaines contemplated Owens’ views on trans-identifying men competing in women’s sports, and whether he agrees with his wife’s stance.
“He’s a big man. Like, tall, strong, large — like many NFL football players, that same stature,” Gaines said. “I wonder if he agrees, if he would want a woman like Simone Biles … on the football field with him; him running full speed at her with every intention to flatten her. I would imagine he wouldn’t support that. But who knows in this world anymore.”
Outkick founder Clay Travis was also among those to question Owens’ stance on the subject, writing in an X post, “Hey @jjowens_3 do you agree with your wife @Simone_Biles that men should be able to play women’s sports and they are heroes for winning championships? Because ain’t no way any NFL player actually believes this. Literally zero chance.”
It’s hardly unheard of for men within the football world to stand up for the sanctity of women’s sports.
Former Ohio State quarterback Kirk Herbstreit expressed his firm opposition to allowing men to compete against female athletes last year. When asked by an X user, “Do men belong in women’s sports?” the College GameDay co-host responded, “Of course not. Ridiculous question.”
Other current and former players to speak out in recent years against the absurdity of permitting trans-identifying men to participate in women’s sports include NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher, former NFL Pro Bowler Marcellus Wiley, and former NFL tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Owens may very well share his wife’s views on the subject. Alternatively, he could hold the exact opposite opinion and is thus far declining to share it for personal reasons or fear of public backlash.
Either way, the refusal of athletes like Owens to publicly defend women’s sports from female-pretending dudes seeking to undermine these spaces is embarrassing.
Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood