Gervarrius Owens Bio
Gervarrius Owens (born October 14, 1999) is an American professional football safety for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds, Owens plays the safety position and has built a career that has taken him through multiple NFL organizations. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft and has continued to develop as a depth and special teams contributor at the professional level.
Owens has previously been a member of the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, and Minnesota Vikings organizations. A native of Moore, Oklahoma, he attended Southmoore High School before advancing through the college ranks and into the NFL. He is recognized for his college accolades and for his persistence in carving out a professional career as an undrafted-level prospect.
Early Life and Background
Gervarrius Owens was born on October 14, 1999, in Moore, Oklahoma, in the United States. He was raised in a household that moved several times during his childhood, with the family first living in Greenville, Mississippi, before relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, and eventually settling in Moore, Oklahoma. These early moves gave Owens exposure to different communities and football cultures across the South and the Midwest.
Owens attended Southmoore High School in Moore, Oklahoma, where he played high school football and developed as a defensive prospect. He was rated as a three-star recruit coming out of prep school and drew early college interest for his size and athletic traits at the safety position. His time at Southmoore helped set the foundation for the next stage of his football career.
Path to American Football
Coming out of high school, Owens committed to play college football at Kansas State, a program with a long tradition of developing defensive backs. He enrolled at Kansas State during the summer of 2017 in order to begin his collegiate career with the Wildcats. However, Owens did not ultimately report to the Kansas State team, and his path took an early turn.
Before the start of the 2017 season, Owens transferred to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, a junior college program known as the Golden Norsemen. As a freshman there, he made 51 tackles and recorded three interceptions, showing the ball-hawking instincts that would become a hallmark of his game. After that productive season, he committed to Minnesota before later being released from his National Letter of Intent to transfer to Houston, where he would establish himself as a starter and earn conference recognition.
Gervarrius Owens Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Owens began his college career at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in 2018, where he immediately contributed as a defensive back. His 51 tackles and three interceptions as a freshman showcased his ability to read the field and make plays on the ball. Those numbers drew attention from four-year programs looking to add a ball-hawking safety to their defensive backfield.
Following his freshman season, Owens committed to the University of Minnesota before being released from his National Letter of Intent. He then transferred to the University of Houston, joining the Houston Cougars program for the 2019 season. That move set the stage for his development into one of the top defensive backs in the American Athletic Conference.
Houston Cougars Breakthrough (2019–2022)
Owens became a starter during his first season with the Houston Cougars and quickly established himself as a reliable presence in the secondary. He spent the 2019 through 2022 seasons at Houston, where he developed into a key contributor for the Cougars defense. His physicality and coverage skills made him a versatile piece in the Houston defensive scheme.
As a junior, Owens was named First-team All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) after recording 52 tackles and two interceptions. That recognition placed him among the top defensive backs in the conference. As a senior, he was named Second-team All-AAC, capping his college career with back-to-back conference honors. His play at Houston helped elevate his draft stock leading into the 2023 NFL draft process.
New York Giants Era (2023–2024)
Owens was selected in the seventh round, 254th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft by the New York Giants. The selection marked the realization of a long journey that began in junior college and continued at Houston. He entered a competitive safety room and looked to carve out a role on defense and on special teams.
Owens was waived by the Giants on August 28, 2024, as part of the team’s roster shaping ahead of the regular season. He was re-signed to the New York Giants practice squad, allowing him to remain within the organization. He was ultimately released on October 29, 2024, ending his time in New York.
Tennessee Titans Era (2024–2025)
On November 5, 2024, Owens was signed to the Tennessee Titans practice squad, where he continued to work toward an active roster opportunity. He appeared in two games during the 2024 season, marking his first regular-season NFL appearances. Owens then signed a reserve/future contract with the Titans on January 6, 2025, securing his place with the organization heading into the new league year.
Owens was waived by the Titans on April 16, 2025, as the team made adjustments to its offseason roster. His time in Tennessee allowed him to gain valuable regular-season experience and to demonstrate his readiness to contribute when called upon. The release opened the door for the next chapter of his professional career.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2025)
On July 30, 2025, Owens signed with the Minnesota Vikings, joining another NFC organization in search of depth in the secondary. The signing came during the heart of training camp, an important period for players looking to earn roster spots. Owens competed for a role within a deep Vikings defensive backfield.
Owens was waived by the Vikings on August 26, 2025, as part of the team’s final roster cuts ahead of the regular season. Despite the short stay, the stint in Minnesota added another stop to his professional resume. He quickly moved on to his next opportunity in the league.
Chicago Bears Era (2025–Present)
On August 28, 2025, Owens was signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad, joining the NFC North rival of the Vikings just two days after his release. The move gave him a chance to continue his development within a Bears organization looking to add depth in the secondary. He has worked to earn a larger role on the active roster.
On January 20, 2026, Owens signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chicago Bears, solidifying his place with the team heading into the 2026 offseason. The contract represented another step in his professional journey, as he continues to pursue a steady role in the NFL. His persistence through multiple practice squad moves has been a defining trait of his early pro career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Owens is known for his instincts in coverage, his willingness to support the run, and his production in the takeaway department. His ball-hawking tendencies, including his three interceptions at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M and his two interceptions in his All-AAC junior season at Houston, highlight his playmaking ability in the secondary. His combination of size, tackling, and coverage skills has allowed him to fit the modern NFL safety profile.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Owens’s signature milestones are his First-team All-AAC selection in 2021, his Second-team All-AAC honor in 2022, and his selection in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL draft. He also made his first regular-season NFL appearances with the Tennessee Titans in 2024, a meaningful step after navigating the transition from junior college to the professional ranks.
Gervarrius Owens Career Wins
As a defensive player, Gervarrius Owens has not accumulated traditional win totals in the way offensive stat-sheet leaders would, but his career is marked by team success and individual accolades. His college honors at Houston stand as his most visible achievements, while his ability to remain on NFL rosters through multiple practice squad moves reflects sustained professional evaluation.
Houston Cougars Highlights
Owens earned First-team All-AAC honors in 2021 after recording 52 tackles and two interceptions, anchoring a Cougars defense that leaned on his production in the secondary. He followed that with Second-team All-AAC recognition as a senior in 2022, reinforcing his consistency at the conference level. His back-to-back conference honors placed him among the top defensive backs in the American Athletic Conference during his time at Houston.
Other Wins and Performances
Owens was rated a three-star recruit coming out of Southmoore High School and later chose a non-traditional path through junior college before reaching the FBS level. At Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, he earned freshman recognition with 51 tackles and three interceptions, an early indicator of his defensive upside. His two NFL regular-season appearances with the Tennessee Titans in 2024 marked his first professional playing time.
Gervarrius Owens Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Details about Gervarrius Owens’s family background are limited in publicly available sources. He was raised in a household that moved from Greenville, Mississippi, to Atlanta, Georgia, and then to Moore, Oklahoma, where he completed his high school years. No public information is currently available regarding his parents or extended family connections to football.
Personal Life
Owens is not publicly known to be married, and no information about a spouse or children is available in verified sources. He attended Southmoore High School in Moore, Oklahoma, before pursuing his college and professional football career. He continues to focus on his development as a professional safety in the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a year of transition for Gervarrius Owens, beginning with his time on the Tennessee Titans roster. After signing a reserve/future contract with the Titans in January 2025, he was waived on April 16, 2025, ending his time in Tennessee. He then joined the Minnesota Vikings on July 30, 2025, before being waived as part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025.
Just two days later, on August 28, 2025, Owens signed with the Chicago Bears practice squad, giving him a fresh opportunity within the NFC North. Although he did not appear in regular-season games with the Vikings, his ability to land quickly with another organization reflected continued interest in his services. His 2025 season was ultimately defined by roster movement and perseverance rather than a fixed role with one team.
Looking ahead, Owens signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chicago Bears on January 20, 2026, securing his place with the team into the next offseason. The deal gives him a chance to compete for a larger role on the Bears’ defensive backfield heading into 2026. His trajectory underscores the value of patience and readiness in navigating an NFL career built largely on practice squad opportunities.