21 Facts About Brandon McGowan

Brandon McGowan was born on September 16,1983 and is a former American football safety.

Brandon McGowan was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2005.

Brandon McGowan was a defensive first-team All-County selection as a senior.

Brandon McGowan was a four-year letterwinner with the Maine Black Bears finishing his college career with 700 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 25 interceptions, 15 forced fumbles, and 15 fumble recoveries.

Brandon McGowan started 33 of the 34 games he played at Maine and was the team's Defensive Player of the Year and an All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection as a junior in 2003.

Brandon McGowan was awarded the "Hammer Award" for being the Black Bears' best special teams player as a freshman in 2001.

Brandon McGowan went undrafted in the 2005 NFL draft and signed a three-year deal with the Chicago Bears.

Brandon McGowan was the only undrafted rookie to make the Bears' roster.

Brandon McGowan missed the first seven games of the 2006 season after beginning the year on the team's Physically Unable to Perform list.

Brandon McGowan recorded two special teams tackles in his first game back against the Miami Dolphins before being placed on injured reserve with an Achilles injury the next day.

In 2007, Brandon McGowan replaced starting safety Adam Archuleta for most of the season and finished the year with 80 tackles and 2 interceptions.

However, Brandon McGowan lost out on the starting strong safety job to Kevin Payne during the 2008 preseason.

In March 2009, Brandon McGowan became a free agent, after the Bears planned on using Payne as their starter for next year.

On May 5,2009, Brandon McGowan signed with the New England Patriots.

Brandon McGowan began the season as a reserve behind starters Brandon Meriweather and James Sanders; however, before the opener, Belichick praised McGowan:.

Brandon McGowan makes plays in the kicking game; he's made plays on defense and both in the running game and in the passing game.

In Week 2, Brandon McGowan started over Sanders against the New York Jets, and continued to do so until Week 14.

Brandon McGowan played as a reserve to Sanders in the final four games of the season and the Patriots' playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Brandon McGowan finished the season with 79 tackles and three forced fumbles.

Brandon McGowan was placed on injured reserve by the Patriots on September 4,2010, with a chest injury, ending his season.

Brandon McGowan was released by the Patriots on August 7,2011.