She's won 11 Olympic medals. She's redefined what's possible in gymnastics. And on Sunday night, Simone Biles picked up a Sony camera and worked the sideline at Levi's Stadium.
Because apparently, there's nothing this woman can't do.
For the Sunday Night Football matchup between the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers, the most decorated gymnast in history wasn't just watching from the stands. She was credentialed. Official media vest. Press pass. Camera in hand.
"We are here at Sunday Night Football where the Bears take on the 49ers, and I'm gonna be taking some photographs," Biles announced in a video shared by the NFL. She called it "just a little side gig."
Why she was there
Biles' husband, Jonathan Owens, plays safety for the Bears. Throughout the 2025 season, she's been a regular presence at games—but usually from a VIP box or the family section.
This time was different. She got the full press access experience, roaming the sidelines before kickoff, snapping shots of warmups, and wearing a media credential that happened to display the number 36—the same number Owens wears on his jersey.
"It's cool that my media number matches his," Biles joked to those around her.
The photos
The NFL released several images captured by Biles throughout the evening. Most featured her husband during pregame routines. One candid shot showed Owens walking toward Biles on the sideline with an enormous smile on his face—the kind of moment only she could capture.
Biles also spent time before the game chatting with Olivia Culpo, wife of 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, in what became one of the more photographed pregame interactions of Week 17.
Not her first rodeo (actually, it was)
Despite her many talents, this was Biles' first time working as a credentialed NFL photographer. She followed Suni Lee, the 2020 Olympic all-around gold medalist, who took photos at the Vikings' Christmas Day victory over the Lions.
The NFL has embraced this crossover content, bringing in athletes from other sports to provide unique perspectives on game day. It works particularly well when those athletes have personal connections to players on the field.
The game itself
San Francisco won 42-38 in a thriller that featured Brock Purdy carving up the Bears defense. Owens saw limited action as the Bears struggled to contain the 49ers' offense.
But for Biles, the result was secondary. She was there to document moments, support her husband, and try something new during a season that's already seen her finish renovating a new home and weigh her options for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
What's next
Biles hasn't announced any plans to pursue photography professionally. Given her track record, though, nobody would bet against her if she did.
For now, it was a unique one-night experience—the greatest gymnast ever, behind a camera instead of in front of it, capturing her husband's world from a new angle.
Side gig, indeed.