November 10, 2023 • 16 mins
In this episode of the Packers POV podcast, safety Jonathan Owens talks about his relationship with wife Simone Biles, his passion for cooking and how he’s paying it forward to the next generation.
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Hello, and welcome to Packers POV, a podcast that aims
to shine a light on the human behind the helmet.
I'm your host, Taylor Rodgers, and we are here inside
historic lambeau Field. Today's guest played his college ball at
Missouri Western, where he won the school's Male Student Athlete
of the Year award in twenty eighteen. Last season, he
(00:26):
started all seventeen games for the Houston Texans while recording
the second most tackles of any defensive back in the NFL.
Introducing Packers safety Jonathan Owens.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
What's up, Jonathan?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
How you doing? Man? Nice to meet you.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Great to meet you too.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Man.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
How are things?
Speaker 4 (00:42):
It's been good Man, just you know, adjusting to Green
Bay life and you know, kind of being a new
guy on the team. So everybody's really welcomed me in
and made me feel like I'm at home.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
You know.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Everyone has been super cool, made a lot of good friends,
and you know, just adjusting. So I'm happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
That's really cool, I know. With you, the camaraderie started
pretty early after signing. You had a trip up to
Door County that got a lot of Packers fans excited.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Yeah, that was I think the first week I was here,
I was just talking with AJ and he's like, hey, man,
you might want to come up to the door County Man,
I can show you some things. So someone she had
came in time with me, and you know, we made
the trip up there. We're like, what are we what
else are we going to do? You know, sit here
and sit in the hotel room. So we went up
there and it was, I mean, an amazing experience. So
that was a great welcome to Green Bay for me.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
That's really neat.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
And you actually posted an ig video of your wife
four time Olympic gold medalist Simone Viles, who you mentioned,
racing your teammate Christian Watson.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
How did that race even come to be?
Speaker 4 (01:43):
So, man, we're just on the boat having a good
time and literally we get off the boat and someone's.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Like, who's your say was the fastest on the team, And.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
I was like, probably Christian And she's like, okay, Christian,
come here, and she's like, let's race right now. And
she actually got out on him at the first ten yards.
He slipped a little. You know, he's seen she took off.
You know, that's when they do like their vaults or whatever.
That's her her first look get off. You know, that's
the fastest she'll get. So it was just kind of
funny to see. And then you know, obviously Christian picked
it up and you know, he said, I couldn't let
(02:12):
her beat me, but it was it was a pretty exciting.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Man, hilarious.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
That's hilarious. And she did have him for I would say, almost.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Twenty yards and about it the halfway mark.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Yeah, he started to he started to pick it up,
you know, long legs.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
But I think that says a lot about Simone and
her competitive spirit to take on the fastest.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Quick.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
She was quick with it, Like you said, he's the fastest. Okay,
let's go right now. I'm like, oh, shoot, you sure.
She's like, yeah, let's go. Let's line it up. Like okay, So.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Do you guys work out together at all?
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Then?
Speaker 3 (02:41):
No.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
I mean she's came to one of my workouts before,
and I think I've done one of hers, and she
says she could do mine a lot easier than I
could do hers, which you know, she could do like
the pull ups really easy, like that was like natural
to her. But I stayed away from there. So, yeah,
they have that. That's a different type of strength and athleticism,
by the way, is intense.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yeah, it is intense, and both of your training regimens
are super intense. I can't imagine there's many off days
that line up for the two of you. But when
there are, how do you guys like to enjoy those?
Speaker 4 (03:10):
We usually like try to go on a date night,
like try to go to a restaurant and you know, relax.
Or during season, when I was in Houston, it would
be like Friday would be that day for us because
usually Saturday is a you know, walk through day and everything,
so you don't have any strenuous football things, so Friday
would be like date night. And then other than that, man,
we like to chill land the couch and we have
(03:31):
three dogs, so you know, take care of the dogs
and they make the house, you know what I mean.
So that's usually how we spend our time.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
That's cool.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
And an opportunity to stay and hang out with the
dogs would be you cooking? I heard you, Oh you cook?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
I throw it down. I throw it down, man, So
that's what I like to do.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
What do you like to cook?
Speaker 4 (03:50):
I'm really big on just going on YouTube and like
looking up any type of recipes like what's it called,
like stuffed chicken breasts? You know how you put the
You could put like some cheese in their little sparagus,
you know, you wrap it up, put in the oven,
like just anything. I like the challenge myself by going
on YouTube and just finding different recipes. You know, you
following the instructions and it's pretty easy. Then you know,
once you do it a couple of times, you put
(04:11):
your own little flavor on it, and you know, you
kind of figure out what you like. And but I
really got into it just being in the off season
and I got tired of Uber eating everything. Yeah, so
I'm like, man, I could like spend way less money
just going to the store and getting something, and I
could eat it for a couple of days, you know,
and versus like every meal trying to order out, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
So so it sounds like something you've taken on rather recently.
But where did you learn to cook?
Speaker 4 (04:36):
I used to watch my mom when she would be cooking.
I just used to ask her like how long did
you leave it in there? And I was very like
insecure on how long to lead the food in there?
Cause my mom she's just like eyeball everything and me,
I'm like, I have the meat temperature check it because
I want it perfect. If I'm cooking chicken, like I
want to write at like one sixty five, you know,
like you know, so I know exactly it's done, it's
(04:57):
not dry. So yeah, I was really just watching my
mom growing up. And then I think it was like
my rookie year. I told my acl and I was
just in the house all the time, just uber eating,
Like so I'm like, man, I need to Once I
was able to like walk a little bit around and
I just started, man, just trying to cook a little
bit for myself. And I mean, you save so much
more money and you can really make so much more food,
you know, So.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
That's really neat. And you mentioned your mom. How do
you keep up with family during the season.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
I mean we FaceTime called each other, and you know,
they'll always text me day before the game, and you know,
day of the game, they give me like their little
motivational speech, and they like obviously now with Green Bay
being closer to Saint Louis is only about a five
and a half six hour drive, so they can they'll
make that versus when I was in Houston or Arizona.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
It was you know, super far, always a flight away.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
So that's pretty much how we just you know, we
FaceTime often, talk on the phone and just catch up always.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
And what was your family's reaction when you signed with
the Packers.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
My sister she was super excited. She's really the big
like football person in the family, like my sisters who
started me playing football, So she was super excited. You know,
this is Lambeau and two it's close. So she's like,
oh we we we on the way, you know, and
then they came to family night and that was like amazing.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
You know.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
My nephew he's like he's he's eight now man like
football fanatic. He's he's only watched me since you know,
college and everything. So he knows every NFL team by logo,
like he'll he'll give you the whole team name.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
You know.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
All he does is watch football videos on his iPad
all day, Like all day. I'm just looking at his
others like eight, you like ate you football games and
I'm like, dude, what do you even how do you
even find this? He's like, I don't know, it just
comes up and that's all He's like infatuated with his football.
So he came here, he got to run on the
field with me for family nights. So I was like,
he's just looking around at all the people, you know
(06:46):
what I mean. So just trying to expose him early,
so you know, he can't tell hisself that he can't
do it, you know what I mean, just because he
sees it. And then he's a cool kid at school.
You know, he gets to tell everybody what his uncle
does and you know where he's been, and so guys,
you know, I love that for him.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
That's a cooler uncle story then most. I'll tell you
that right now. So does he want to play?
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Yeah, he just started tackle football this year. His mom
my sister wasn't gonna let him for a while, but
he was not having it. So he's like, no, I
want to play tackle football now, like I'm not playing
flag football anymore.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
So you've got your sister and your nephew that have
been up here and visited my mom.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
My mom came as well.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
So what was that visit like? Showing your mom Green Bay?
Speaker 4 (07:26):
They were like amaze. You know, it's because it's Lambeau
Like everyone knows, you know, Lambeau Field. And my mom
she just wants to drive by the stadium and like
get a little video of the stadium, you know. And
but they were just you know, happy that I'm happy.
That was the biggest thing, you know. And it's a
good spot, you know, some especially somewhere where you feel
wanted and you know someone's giving you an opportunity, you know,
continue chasing your dream. So they just you know, as
(07:48):
long as I'm happy, they're overjoy you know. And like
I said, it's closer, and they were just family and
that was a great experience for him. You know, they
got to come down on the field and you know,
see all the people and everything. So like no shot
to Houston, but it's it was kind of crazy that,
like I hadn't seen like Houston Stadium that four before,
and my family hadn't either, So it was like a
crazy experience to basically see like a full stadium for
(08:10):
a practice, you know. So that was just kind of
shows like how invested you know the fans here are, so.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Yeah, packed house for practice.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
That was crazy.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
And you've actually called your mom your biggest supporter. What
stands out to you now looking back on this journey
with her?
Speaker 4 (08:26):
I guess I'll say, because my mom, you know, she
was on disability growing up, so we didn't you know,
we didn't have much money, but we had enough, you know.
But she, I mean, she put me in a private
high school just to be able to give me a
better opportunity, a better chance, you know, being a better
learning environment just because of the school that I would
(08:46):
have went to that was in my district in Saint Louis,
it wasn't as great academically. So yeah, my mom sent
me to a private high school, you know, and had
to pay tuition. Still don't know how she did that,
you know. And I was always pretty smart or when
I went to that school, it really just made me like,
hone in and like understand the importance of school work.
(09:06):
And I was always I wanted to be a straight
a student, like and it taught me great study habits.
So when I got to college, college was really just
you know, a breeze because in some ways I felt
like my high school was harder, you know, just because
of the workload days to give us and just teaching
us time management skills and everything. So that was really
like the first moment I felt my mom like really
like put me in a great situation. Then we had
(09:28):
a great high school football team, Like I had an
amazing high school football experience, went to state loss, but
it was a great opportunity versus what I would have
went through at the school in my district. So man,
she's just always you know, put me first, man. So
now it's I just try to make sure she has
the best life, you know, and anything she needs. You know,
she knows I'm here for you know. And you know,
(09:51):
my mom she's just super proud, you know, her her
son is went and made out his dreams happened, you
know what I mean. I had an amazing wife, you know,
and just good person, you know what I mean. So
my mom's just you know, she's proud, and I know
she loves to tell people. So I love that for her.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
And is your mom and Simone pretty close?
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Oh yeah, it's crazy, Simone, Like it was at one point,
like before someone started like training a lot, she was
talking to my mom more than me. Like I would
come home, she'd be like, yeah, I talk to you mom.
I talk to your mom. We're going FaceTime for like
two hours, Like what are.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Y'all talking about me?
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Exactly.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
They're super close, and you know, my mom, she's super
excited that I've you know, found a woman that has
you know, has her own and you know, does great
for herself. Obviously she's you know, the best ever. So yeah,
my mom loves her though. They're super close.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Pretty amazing role models right there. So now you have
a chance to make some of your own sacrifices and
pay it forward. You hosted a free football camp at
your high school in Saint Louis the past two years
for youngsters. What was that experience like, interacting with them.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
Man, seeing their face like, you know, man, you know
I played with you I Madden or you know, oh
my god, like you know, just letting them know like
I'm from the same place that you're from. You know,
I went to high school here, played on this field, like,
you know, just letting them know it's possible, you know,
if you can be somewhere where they could see you,
touch you, and just know that you're just a regular person,
(11:20):
you know, because people can get caught up and seeing
the game on TV and like, oh my gosh, it's
just like out of this world to think that I
can do this, you know. So man, it's just to
inspire the next generation. That's the biggest thing, because I know,
I never got a chance to go to anything like
that when I was younger and Saint Louis had a
football NFL team at the time, the Saint Louis Rams,
(11:42):
and it was just like, oh my god, the Rams,
like you know what I mean. I do remember one
time it was one football player came to my middle
school and it was just like he was like a
god walking through there, you know what I mean, And
so I just shot him and just show.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Just be there for the kid.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
You know, I'm doing the drills with him, talking to him,
dabbing them up, know, just as seawan, you know, just
regular you know, just regular people. You know, you just
just so happens you excel at your sport, and you know,
just keep getting better, keep perfecting your craft. Never think
that you got it, you know. I always think that
you can learn something, you know, and just being their
form and just talking to him and try and inspire
the man. So it's it's very fun man to go
(12:19):
out there and just see the kids' faces and just
you know, because they just light up, you know when
they see you. And it's crazy that you can make
someone's day like that, just you know, being who you
are and just you know, being a genuine person talking
to him. So that's really the biggest thing like that
I love, Like, that's the biggest satisfaction I get. Man,
it's just seeing how you can inspire those kids and
they're like, man, I can't wait for next year.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
You know. Is there an interaction with a kid that
stands out to you?
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Man?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
It was it was a little kid. Man, he was
like he was doing an interview. So we had the
videographer guy just walking around interviewing the kids and he's like, man,
like it was just super. It was.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
It's the best football camp I've ever been to. He's like, man,
I'm gonna get there one day.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Like you know, And it's just crazy hearing a little
kids say that, you know, and just knowing that we
and we are inspiring kids to just chase their dream
like that. Now you can't tell them, like you can't
tell me I can't go to the NFL, you know,
And it's just it's all about confidence, you know, especially
doing that as a younger kid at ten, eleven, twelve,
you know, those kids just you know, they getting exposed
(13:23):
to a lot and so that's really you know, the
thing we love to see man is just being able
to inspire man. So they know that they you know,
anything is possible, any dreams possible. Don't let someone tell
you you don't even have a teacher. Oh no, you
need to a realistic dream. Like I've had teachers tell
me that, you know, if I say I want to
be in the NFL and now look, you know, like
I know.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
It's kind of crazy.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
I've probably had a teacher that have seen me on
TV or something, you know, and it's just like, man,
that was the guy like he was in my class,
you know. So that's just one of the things. Like
that's an instance I remember like teachers telling me, like
pick a real you know, get a real career, you know,
and pick something that's tangible that you feel like you
can do it now, Like you know.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
I'm getting chills. I'm going to be there one day.
I love that so much. And who better to tell
them than you? What would you tell that youngster from
your camp as to how to make it to this point?
Speaker 4 (14:16):
I always tell yourself you can get better at something
that was just never think that you got it, because
the moment you feel like you got it, you get humbled,
you know, and you might not work out as hard anymore,
or you might not take film study as important because
I got it, like I know what I can do.
Like and that's just one of those things where you
just keep yourself humble, you know, and work hard always.
(14:39):
It's just the number one thing. Just be a great
person as well. Like being a great person take you
a long way, you know, whether it's anybody in the building,
you know, from the cooks to the janitors, anybody just
walk past them, you know, say how I introduce yourself?
You never know, like you just saying, hey, did someone
ask them how that day was? Like you might you know,
make that day, you know, like things like that. And
I just remember people always tell me, like being a
(15:01):
great person matters, Like my biggest thing is I just
always want to be the same person every day. You know.
I can't be like up and down, like one day
I'm not talking to anybody and you know what I mean.
So and just you know, keep doing what I'm doing,
you know, and just like be humble. And I always
remember who got you here?
Speaker 3 (15:17):
You know.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
I always feel like it was the plan was written,
you know, like I always knew something was like destined
for me and my family. They would say the same
thing that they just always knew I was different, you know,
and they always tell me you're.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Gonna be all right.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
I know you're gonna be good, and you know, and
not look and it's crazy, like I'm in my wedding
with all my family there and we're in Mexico and
they're just like, I'm so proud of you, like look
where we at, you know, and then I go and
marry my lady and you know what I mean, and
they're just like, I always knew you were gonna be special,
you know, So it's okay to be different. I definitely
when I was younger, I to beat like some people
caught me weird, like just because I was just I
(15:50):
was just sit back, I was quiet, just you know,
it was just an observative kid. But I just kind
of I knew I didn't really fit in, but I
would try to fit in, and I just never understood why.
But you know, I mean, obviously we look who we
are now.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
You know.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
Everything worked out for me. But that was the biggest thing, man,
just you know, even with getting gaining success, like stay humble,
you know, stay cheated yourself and always treat people great.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
That's a beautiful message and what a way to close. Jonathan,
thank you so much for taking the time. Really appreciate
sitting down with you.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Man. Nice being here man. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
And thank you for listening to Packers POV. To learn
more about what Jonathan is doing off the field, please
visit his instagram, Jay Owens. Take care and see you
next time.
Hello, and welcome to Packers POV, a podcast that aims
to shine a light on the human behind the helmet.
I'm your host, Taylor Rodgers, and we are here inside
historic lambeau Field. Today's guest played his college ball at
Missouri Western, where he won the school's Male Student Athlete
of the Year award in twenty eighteen. Last season, he
(00:26):
started all seventeen games for the Houston Texans while recording
the second most tackles of any defensive back in the NFL.
Introducing Packers safety Jonathan Owens.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
What's up, Jonathan?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
How you doing? Man? Nice to meet you.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Great to meet you too.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Man.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
How are things?
Speaker 4 (00:42):
It's been good Man, just you know, adjusting to Green
Bay life and you know, kind of being a new
guy on the team. So everybody's really welcomed me in
and made me feel like I'm at home.
Speaker 3 (00:51):
You know.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
Everyone has been super cool, made a lot of good friends,
and you know, just adjusting. So I'm happy to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:59):
That's really cool, I know. With you, the camaraderie started
pretty early after signing. You had a trip up to
Door County that got a lot of Packers fans excited.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Yeah, that was I think the first week I was here,
I was just talking with AJ and he's like, hey, man,
you might want to come up to the door County Man,
I can show you some things. So someone she had
came in time with me, and you know, we made
the trip up there. We're like, what are we what
else are we going to do? You know, sit here
and sit in the hotel room. So we went up
there and it was, I mean, an amazing experience. So
that was a great welcome to Green Bay for me.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
That's really neat.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
And you actually posted an ig video of your wife
four time Olympic gold medalist Simone Viles, who you mentioned,
racing your teammate Christian Watson.
Speaker 2 (01:41):
How did that race even come to be?
Speaker 4 (01:43):
So, man, we're just on the boat having a good
time and literally we get off the boat and someone's.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Like, who's your say was the fastest on the team, And.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
I was like, probably Christian And she's like, okay, Christian,
come here, and she's like, let's race right now. And
she actually got out on him at the first ten yards.
He slipped a little. You know, he's seen she took off.
You know, that's when they do like their vaults or whatever.
That's her her first look get off. You know, that's
the fastest she'll get. So it was just kind of
funny to see. And then you know, obviously Christian picked
it up and you know, he said, I couldn't let
(02:12):
her beat me, but it was it was a pretty exciting.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Man, hilarious.
Speaker 2 (02:15):
That's hilarious. And she did have him for I would say, almost.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
Twenty yards and about it the halfway mark.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Yeah, he started to he started to pick it up,
you know, long legs.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
But I think that says a lot about Simone and
her competitive spirit to take on the fastest.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Quick.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
She was quick with it, Like you said, he's the fastest. Okay,
let's go right now. I'm like, oh, shoot, you sure.
She's like, yeah, let's go. Let's line it up. Like okay, So.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Do you guys work out together at all?
Speaker 1 (02:40):
Then?
Speaker 3 (02:41):
No.
Speaker 4 (02:41):
I mean she's came to one of my workouts before,
and I think I've done one of hers, and she
says she could do mine a lot easier than I
could do hers, which you know, she could do like
the pull ups really easy, like that was like natural
to her. But I stayed away from there. So, yeah,
they have that. That's a different type of strength and athleticism,
by the way, is intense.
Speaker 1 (02:59):
Yeah, it is intense, and both of your training regimens
are super intense. I can't imagine there's many off days
that line up for the two of you. But when
there are, how do you guys like to enjoy those?
Speaker 4 (03:10):
We usually like try to go on a date night,
like try to go to a restaurant and you know, relax.
Or during season, when I was in Houston, it would
be like Friday would be that day for us because
usually Saturday is a you know, walk through day and everything,
so you don't have any strenuous football things, so Friday
would be like date night. And then other than that, man,
we like to chill land the couch and we have
(03:31):
three dogs, so you know, take care of the dogs
and they make the house, you know what I mean.
So that's usually how we spend our time.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
That's cool.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
And an opportunity to stay and hang out with the
dogs would be you cooking? I heard you, Oh you cook?
Speaker 3 (03:46):
I throw it down. I throw it down, man, So
that's what I like to do.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
What do you like to cook?
Speaker 4 (03:50):
I'm really big on just going on YouTube and like
looking up any type of recipes like what's it called,
like stuffed chicken breasts? You know how you put the
You could put like some cheese in their little sparagus,
you know, you wrap it up, put in the oven,
like just anything. I like the challenge myself by going
on YouTube and just finding different recipes. You know, you
following the instructions and it's pretty easy. Then you know,
once you do it a couple of times, you put
(04:11):
your own little flavor on it, and you know, you
kind of figure out what you like. And but I
really got into it just being in the off season
and I got tired of Uber eating everything. Yeah, so
I'm like, man, I could like spend way less money
just going to the store and getting something, and I
could eat it for a couple of days, you know,
and versus like every meal trying to order out, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
So so it sounds like something you've taken on rather recently.
But where did you learn to cook?
Speaker 4 (04:36):
I used to watch my mom when she would be cooking.
I just used to ask her like how long did
you leave it in there? And I was very like
insecure on how long to lead the food in there?
Cause my mom she's just like eyeball everything and me,
I'm like, I have the meat temperature check it because
I want it perfect. If I'm cooking chicken, like I
want to write at like one sixty five, you know,
like you know, so I know exactly it's done, it's
(04:57):
not dry. So yeah, I was really just watching my
mom growing up. And then I think it was like
my rookie year. I told my acl and I was
just in the house all the time, just uber eating,
Like so I'm like, man, I need to Once I
was able to like walk a little bit around and
I just started, man, just trying to cook a little
bit for myself. And I mean, you save so much
more money and you can really make so much more food,
you know, So.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
That's really neat. And you mentioned your mom. How do
you keep up with family during the season.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
I mean we FaceTime called each other, and you know,
they'll always text me day before the game, and you know,
day of the game, they give me like their little
motivational speech, and they like obviously now with Green Bay
being closer to Saint Louis is only about a five
and a half six hour drive, so they can they'll
make that versus when I was in Houston or Arizona.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
It was you know, super far, always a flight away.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
So that's pretty much how we just you know, we
FaceTime often, talk on the phone and just catch up always.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
And what was your family's reaction when you signed with
the Packers.
Speaker 4 (05:53):
My sister she was super excited. She's really the big
like football person in the family, like my sisters who
started me playing football, So she was super excited. You know,
this is Lambeau and two it's close. So she's like,
oh we we we on the way, you know, and
then they came to family night and that was like amazing.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
You know.
Speaker 4 (06:11):
My nephew he's like he's he's eight now man like
football fanatic. He's he's only watched me since you know,
college and everything. So he knows every NFL team by logo,
like he'll he'll give you the whole team name.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
You know.
Speaker 4 (06:24):
All he does is watch football videos on his iPad
all day, Like all day. I'm just looking at his
others like eight, you like ate you football games and
I'm like, dude, what do you even how do you
even find this? He's like, I don't know, it just
comes up and that's all He's like infatuated with his football.
So he came here, he got to run on the
field with me for family nights. So I was like,
he's just looking around at all the people, you know
(06:46):
what I mean. So just trying to expose him early,
so you know, he can't tell hisself that he can't
do it, you know what I mean, just because he
sees it. And then he's a cool kid at school.
You know, he gets to tell everybody what his uncle
does and you know where he's been, and so guys,
you know, I love that for him.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
That's a cooler uncle story then most. I'll tell you
that right now. So does he want to play?
Speaker 4 (07:06):
Yeah, he just started tackle football this year. His mom
my sister wasn't gonna let him for a while, but
he was not having it. So he's like, no, I
want to play tackle football now, like I'm not playing
flag football anymore.
Speaker 1 (07:17):
So you've got your sister and your nephew that have
been up here and visited my mom.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
My mom came as well.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
So what was that visit like? Showing your mom Green Bay?
Speaker 4 (07:26):
They were like amaze. You know, it's because it's Lambeau
Like everyone knows, you know, Lambeau Field. And my mom
she just wants to drive by the stadium and like
get a little video of the stadium, you know. And
but they were just you know, happy that I'm happy.
That was the biggest thing, you know. And it's a
good spot, you know, some especially somewhere where you feel
wanted and you know someone's giving you an opportunity, you know,
continue chasing your dream. So they just you know, as
(07:48):
long as I'm happy, they're overjoy you know. And like
I said, it's closer, and they were just family and
that was a great experience for him. You know, they
got to come down on the field and you know,
see all the people and everything. So like no shot
to Houston, but it's it was kind of crazy that,
like I hadn't seen like Houston Stadium that four before,
and my family hadn't either, So it was like a
crazy experience to basically see like a full stadium for
(08:10):
a practice, you know. So that was just kind of
shows like how invested you know the fans here are, so.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Yeah, packed house for practice.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
That was crazy.
Speaker 1 (08:19):
And you've actually called your mom your biggest supporter. What
stands out to you now looking back on this journey
with her?
Speaker 4 (08:26):
I guess I'll say, because my mom, you know, she
was on disability growing up, so we didn't you know,
we didn't have much money, but we had enough, you know.
But she, I mean, she put me in a private
high school just to be able to give me a
better opportunity, a better chance, you know, being a better
learning environment just because of the school that I would
(08:46):
have went to that was in my district in Saint Louis,
it wasn't as great academically. So yeah, my mom sent
me to a private high school, you know, and had
to pay tuition. Still don't know how she did that,
you know. And I was always pretty smart or when
I went to that school, it really just made me like,
hone in and like understand the importance of school work.
(09:06):
And I was always I wanted to be a straight
a student, like and it taught me great study habits.
So when I got to college, college was really just
you know, a breeze because in some ways I felt
like my high school was harder, you know, just because
of the workload days to give us and just teaching
us time management skills and everything. So that was really
like the first moment I felt my mom like really
like put me in a great situation. Then we had
(09:28):
a great high school football team, Like I had an
amazing high school football experience, went to state loss, but
it was a great opportunity versus what I would have
went through at the school in my district. So man,
she's just always you know, put me first, man. So
now it's I just try to make sure she has
the best life, you know, and anything she needs. You know,
she knows I'm here for you know. And you know,
(09:51):
my mom she's just super proud, you know, her her
son is went and made out his dreams happened, you
know what I mean. I had an amazing wife, you know,
and just good person, you know what I mean. So
my mom's just you know, she's proud, and I know
she loves to tell people. So I love that for her.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
And is your mom and Simone pretty close?
Speaker 4 (10:09):
Oh yeah, it's crazy, Simone, Like it was at one point,
like before someone started like training a lot, she was
talking to my mom more than me. Like I would
come home, she'd be like, yeah, I talk to you mom.
I talk to your mom. We're going FaceTime for like
two hours, Like what are.
Speaker 3 (10:24):
Y'all talking about me?
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Yeah?
Speaker 3 (10:26):
Exactly.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
They're super close, and you know, my mom, she's super
excited that I've you know, found a woman that has
you know, has her own and you know, does great
for herself. Obviously she's you know, the best ever. So yeah,
my mom loves her though. They're super close.
Speaker 1 (10:42):
Pretty amazing role models right there. So now you have
a chance to make some of your own sacrifices and
pay it forward. You hosted a free football camp at
your high school in Saint Louis the past two years
for youngsters. What was that experience like, interacting with them.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
Man, seeing their face like, you know, man, you know
I played with you I Madden or you know, oh
my god, like you know, just letting them know like
I'm from the same place that you're from. You know,
I went to high school here, played on this field, like,
you know, just letting them know it's possible, you know,
if you can be somewhere where they could see you,
touch you, and just know that you're just a regular person,
(11:20):
you know, because people can get caught up and seeing
the game on TV and like, oh my gosh, it's
just like out of this world to think that I
can do this, you know. So man, it's just to
inspire the next generation. That's the biggest thing, because I know,
I never got a chance to go to anything like
that when I was younger and Saint Louis had a
football NFL team at the time, the Saint Louis Rams,
(11:42):
and it was just like, oh my god, the Rams,
like you know what I mean. I do remember one
time it was one football player came to my middle
school and it was just like he was like a
god walking through there, you know what I mean, And
so I just shot him and just show.
Speaker 3 (11:56):
Just be there for the kid.
Speaker 4 (11:57):
You know, I'm doing the drills with him, talking to him,
dabbing them up, know, just as seawan, you know, just
regular you know, just regular people. You know, you just
just so happens you excel at your sport, and you know,
just keep getting better, keep perfecting your craft. Never think
that you got it, you know. I always think that
you can learn something, you know, and just being their
form and just talking to him and try and inspire
the man. So it's it's very fun man to go
(12:19):
out there and just see the kids' faces and just
you know, because they just light up, you know when
they see you. And it's crazy that you can make
someone's day like that, just you know, being who you
are and just you know, being a genuine person talking
to him. So that's really the biggest thing like that
I love, Like, that's the biggest satisfaction I get. Man,
it's just seeing how you can inspire those kids and
they're like, man, I can't wait for next year.
Speaker 1 (12:41):
You know. Is there an interaction with a kid that
stands out to you?
Speaker 3 (12:45):
Man?
Speaker 4 (12:46):
It was it was a little kid. Man, he was
like he was doing an interview. So we had the
videographer guy just walking around interviewing the kids and he's like, man,
like it was just super. It was.
Speaker 3 (12:57):
It's the best football camp I've ever been to. He's like, man,
I'm gonna get there one day.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
Like you know, And it's just crazy hearing a little
kids say that, you know, and just knowing that we
and we are inspiring kids to just chase their dream
like that. Now you can't tell them, like you can't
tell me I can't go to the NFL, you know,
And it's just it's all about confidence, you know, especially
doing that as a younger kid at ten, eleven, twelve,
you know, those kids just you know, they getting exposed
(13:23):
to a lot and so that's really you know, the
thing we love to see man is just being able
to inspire man. So they know that they you know,
anything is possible, any dreams possible. Don't let someone tell
you you don't even have a teacher. Oh no, you
need to a realistic dream. Like I've had teachers tell
me that, you know, if I say I want to
be in the NFL and now look, you know, like
I know.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
It's kind of crazy.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
I've probably had a teacher that have seen me on
TV or something, you know, and it's just like, man,
that was the guy like he was in my class,
you know. So that's just one of the things. Like
that's an instance I remember like teachers telling me, like
pick a real you know, get a real career, you know,
and pick something that's tangible that you feel like you
can do it now, Like you know.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
I'm getting chills. I'm going to be there one day.
I love that so much. And who better to tell
them than you? What would you tell that youngster from
your camp as to how to make it to this point?
Speaker 4 (14:16):
I always tell yourself you can get better at something
that was just never think that you got it, because
the moment you feel like you got it, you get humbled,
you know, and you might not work out as hard anymore,
or you might not take film study as important because
I got it, like I know what I can do.
Like and that's just one of those things where you
just keep yourself humble, you know, and work hard always.
(14:39):
It's just the number one thing. Just be a great
person as well. Like being a great person take you
a long way, you know, whether it's anybody in the building,
you know, from the cooks to the janitors, anybody just
walk past them, you know, say how I introduce yourself?
You never know, like you just saying, hey, did someone
ask them how that day was? Like you might you know,
make that day, you know, like things like that. And
I just remember people always tell me, like being a
(15:01):
great person matters, Like my biggest thing is I just
always want to be the same person every day. You know.
I can't be like up and down, like one day
I'm not talking to anybody and you know what I mean.
So and just you know, keep doing what I'm doing,
you know, and just like be humble. And I always
remember who got you here?
Speaker 3 (15:17):
You know.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
I always feel like it was the plan was written,
you know, like I always knew something was like destined
for me and my family. They would say the same
thing that they just always knew I was different, you know,
and they always tell me you're.
Speaker 3 (15:27):
Gonna be all right.
Speaker 4 (15:28):
I know you're gonna be good, and you know, and
not look and it's crazy, like I'm in my wedding
with all my family there and we're in Mexico and
they're just like, I'm so proud of you, like look
where we at, you know, and then I go and
marry my lady and you know what I mean, and
they're just like, I always knew you were gonna be special,
you know, So it's okay to be different. I definitely
when I was younger, I to beat like some people
caught me weird, like just because I was just I
(15:50):
was just sit back, I was quiet, just you know,
it was just an observative kid. But I just kind
of I knew I didn't really fit in, but I
would try to fit in, and I just never understood why.
But you know, I mean, obviously we look who we
are now.
Speaker 3 (16:01):
You know.
Speaker 4 (16:02):
Everything worked out for me. But that was the biggest thing, man,
just you know, even with getting gaining success, like stay humble,
you know, stay cheated yourself and always treat people great.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
That's a beautiful message and what a way to close. Jonathan,
thank you so much for taking the time. Really appreciate
sitting down with you.
Speaker 3 (16:19):
Man. Nice being here man. Thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
And thank you for listening to Packers POV. To learn
more about what Jonathan is doing off the field, please
visit his instagram, Jay Owens. Take care and see you
next time.
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