Simone Biles’ NFL Husband Jonathan Owens Recounts Harrowing Near-Robbery at Winter Olympics

The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics were meant to be a celebratory respite for Olympic legend Simone Biles and her husband, Chicago Bears safety Jonathan Owens. Instead, the trip took a frightening turn, as Owens revealed a harrowing encounter that nearly ended in a robbery. The incident, shared by Owens on social media, casts a shadow over the glamour of the Games and highlights the unpredictable challenges athletes and their families face even in the most secure international settings.

A Day of Celebration Nearly Upended in Milan

Jonathan Owens and Simone Biles were in Milan, Italy, to support Team USA, a visible and celebrated couple amidst the Olympic festivities. Following the men’s single skating event on February 13, Owens took to social media to share that his “day was nearly upended” by an attempted robbery. While specific details of the location and method were not fully disclosed in his post, the implication was clear: a moment meant for joy and national pride was interrupted by a stark reminder of vulnerability. The couple, photographed smiling at the Milano Ice Skating Arena just hours before, were suddenly navigating a very different, more distressing reality. This incident underscores that even within the perceived safety bubble of a major global event, situational awareness is paramount.

Beyond the Headlines: The Reality for High-Profile Sports Families

While the immediate story focuses on the scare itself, it opens a broader conversation about the unique pressures on elite athletes and their partners. Jonathan Owens is a professional in the NFL, a league with its own intense security protocols. Simone Biles is arguably the greatest gymnast of all time, accustomed to a global spotlight. Together, they represent a powerful and highly recognizable transatlantic sports couple.

This visibility, while beneficial for their brands, can also make them targets. Experts in athlete security note that high-profile individuals at international events face compounded risks:

• Target Recognition: Their faces are widely known, potentially marking them as lucrative targets for criminals.
• Routine Disruption: The unfamiliar environment of a foreign city, even during the Olympics, can disrupt normal situational awareness.
• Event Overload: Security resources at mega-events are often stretched thin, focused on venues rather than the peripheral movements of attendees.

“This incident with Jonathan Owens is unfortunately not an isolated one,” says a veteran sports security consultant who requested anonymity. “The Olympics are a security fortress at the venues, but the moment these individuals step into the city at large, they blend into the tourist population and become susceptible to the same crimes any visitor might face, often with the added risk of their perceived wealth.”

Security at Mega-Events: A Complex Balancing Act

The near-robbery raises pertinent questions about the security footprint of events like the Winter Olympics. Organizers invest billions in protecting competition zones, athlete villages, and official transportation corridors. However, the responsibility for personal security in non-sanctioned areas often falls to the individuals and their teams. For athletes and their families attending as spectators, like Owens, they are not part of the official delegation’s security bubble.

This gap is well-known within athletic circles. Many top-tier athletes now employ personal security details for international travel, a practice once reserved for A-list celebrities. The incident in Milan may accelerate this trend among professional athletes from leagues like the NFL and NBA who have significant off-season global commitments. The key takeaway is that the “Olympic security” umbrella is not all-encompassing, and personal vigilance remains the first line of defense.

Impact and Predictions: How This Event Shapes Future Behavior

The psychological impact of such a scare should not be underestimated. For Owens, the focus quickly shifts back to his Chicago Bears offseason training, but the event may linger. For Biles, a figure who has championed mental health and personal safety, the experience reinforces the need for constant vigilance.

Looking ahead, we can predict several outcomes from this incident:

• Increased Private Security Adoption: More athletes and their families will likely invest in discrete security for personal travel, especially to crowded international destinations.
• Enhanced League and Agency Guidance: Player unions and agencies may develop more robust briefings for players traveling abroad, moving beyond basic cultural tips to include practical security advice.
• Social Media Caution: This event highlights the double-edged sword of real-time social media updates. While fans appreciate the access, sharing locations in real-time can pose safety risks. We may see a shift towards more delayed, retrospective posting from high-profile figures.
• Broader Conversation on Fan and Family Safety: The discussion may expand to include the safety of fans traveling to mega-events, prompting event organizers to partner with host cities on more comprehensive awareness campaigns for all visitors.

Conclusion: A Stark Reminder Amid the Spectacle

Jonathan Owens’ frightening experience in Milan serves as a stark, humanizing reminder that behind the medals, the cheering crowds, and the glamorous photos, athletes and their families navigate the same world as everyone else—with all its attendant risks. The Winter Olympics are a testament to human achievement and global unity, but they exist within the fabric of a host city, with all its complexities. This incident is not a condemnation of Milan or the Olympics, but rather a sobering case study in modern fame and personal security.

Thankfully, Owens emerged from the situation unharmed, able to continue supporting his wife and Team USA. His decision to share the story provides a valuable lesson for all public figures and international travelers. As the world grows increasingly interconnected and the lines between personal and public life blur, the need for awareness, preparation, and proactive security measures has never been greater. The true victory, in this case, was a safe return to normalcy after a day that could have ended very differently.

Source: Based on news from Fox Sports.