Brandon McGowan biography
Date of birth : 1983-09-26
Date of death : -
Birthplace : Jersey City, New Jersey, USA
Nationality : American
Category : Sports
Last modified : 2010-12-07
Credited as : Football player NFL, safety for the New England Patriots, Pro Bowl/NFL Draft player
0 votes so far
Brandon McGowan was signed by the Patriots as an unrestricted free agent on May 5, 2009 ... Originally signed by the Chicago Bears as a rookie free agent (5/1/05) ... Placed on injured reserve with a knee injury (1/10/06) ... Placed on injured reserve with an Achilles injury (11/6/06) ... Placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury (9/19/08).
Career Highlights
* McGowan joined the Patriots in 2009 as a veteran of four NFL seasons, all with the Chicago Bears (2005-08).
* McGowan enters 2010 having played in 41 career games with 24 starts and has recorded 181 career tackles (118 solo), two interceptions, ten passes defensed, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 28 special teams tackles.
* As a rookie in 2005, McGowan was the only undrafted Bears rookie to make the active roster, seeing action in eight games and starting the final three games of the season.
2010
* Placed on injured reserve on Sept. 4, 2010 with a chest injury.
2009 (16/11, 1/0)
* Saw action in a career-high 16 games with 11 starting assignments at free safety and set career-highs with 66 total tackles, 10 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
* Also played a key role on special teams, finishing with 12 total tackles and one fumble recovery.
* Led the team in tackles vs. Tennessee (10/18) with seven and tied for the team lead with 12 at Denver (10/11).
* Forced a fumble with a thundering hit on Michael Turner vs. Atlanta (9/27) in the second quarter, which created a fumble that was recovered by James Sanders at the New England 31-yard line and led to a drive that resulted in a field goal. Helped limit Tony Gonzalez to just one reception.
* Registered his second career fumble recovery vs. Baltimore (10/4), pouncing on a Chris Carr fumble that was created from a hit by Eric Alexander on the opening kickoff to help set up a field goal.
* Recovered a first quarter Knowshon Moreno fumble at Denver (10/11) forced by a Jerod Mayo hit. The recovery helped position the Patriots for a field goal.
* Forced a fourth quarter fumble vs. Tennessee (10/18) that was recovered by Junior Seau.
* Played as a reserve in the postseason game vs. Baltimore (1/10) and finished with one tackle.
2008 (2/1 - Chicago)
* Played in the first two games of the season with one start before being placed on injured reserve with an ankle injury (9/19).
* Recorded five tackles (2 solo) and a pass defensed.
2007 (14/9 - Chicago)
* Played in 14 games, making nine starts and posted a single-season career high 80 tackles (52 solo), three passes defensed, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
* His 80 tackles placed sixth on the team and also made a career-high 10 special teams tackles.
* Recorded his first career interception, picking off a Brett Favre pass in the Bears' victory over the Packers (10/7).
* Added his second interception of the season at Minnesota (12/17).
2006 (1/0 - Chicago)
* Missed games one through seven after being placed on the physically unable to perform list and made his lone appearance of the season after being activated from the physically unable to perform list against Miami (11/5), making one tackle along with two special teams tackles.
* Placed on injured reserve with an Achilles injury (11/6).
2005 (8/3 - Chicago)
* Played in eight games and made three starts as the only undrafted rookie to make the Bears' active roster.
* Finished with 29 tackles, including one tackle for a loss, as well as four special teams tackles.
* Made his first career start at free safety versus Atlanta (12/18) and led the secondary with nine tackles.
* Suffered a knee injury in the season finale at Minnesota (1/1) and was placed on injured reserve (1/10).
College
* McGowan earned four letters at Maine (2001-04) and started 33 of his 34 games played.
* Racked up 293 career tackles, including 20 tackles for a loss and 7.5 sacks while notching seven interceptions, 10 passes defensed, five fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.
* Earned first-team All-Atlantic 10 honors as a senior free safety.
* Named Maine's Defensive Player of the Year and was a second-team All-Atlantic 10 selection as a junior.
* As a sophomore in 2002, played in 13 games with 12 starts at strong safety and tallied 94 tackles.
Personal
* Brandon McGowan was born the son of Annie Herring and Kyle McGowan on September 26, 1983.
* Attended Lincoln (Jersey City, N.J.) High School where he played both safety and tailback.
* Named defensive first-team all-county following his senior season in which he recorded 63 tackles, five sacks, three forced fumbles and three blocked punts.
* Also rushed for 613 yards and scored 11 touchdowns his senior year.
* Majored in business at Maine.
Extra
* Brandon attended the University of Maine from 2001-04. Entering the 2010 season, just two other players from the University of Maine have appeared in a game for the Patriots. Defensive Back Dave Cloutier played in 12 games in 1964 and wide receiver Clay Pickering played in one game in 1987.
