Matt Bowen (American football)

Total tackles:	227
Sacks:	2.0
Forced fumbles:	3
Pass deflections:	18
Interceptions:	4

Matt Bowen
No. 27, 28, 41
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	November 12, 1976 (age 47); Glen Ellyn, Illinois, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	207 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:	Glen Ellyn (IL) Glenbard West
College:	Iowa
NFL draft:	2000 / Round: 6 / Pick: 198
Career history
	St. Louis Rams (2000–2001); Green Bay Packers (2001–2002); Washington Redskins (2003–2005); Buffalo Bills (2006);
Career highlights and awards
	Second-team All-Big Ten (1999);
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:
Total tackles:	227
Sacks:	2.0
Forced fumbles:	3
Pass deflections:	18
Interceptions:	4
	Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Last updated May 03, 2024

Matthew Sean Bowen (born November 12, 1976) is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams 198th overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, also the last pick before Tom Brady. Bowen currently works as a sports journalist.

High school career

Bowen was an all-state, all-area and all-conference selection as a quarterback at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. He was originally recruited to Iowa as a quarterback after finishing his senior season as team captain and MVP after passing for 1,533 yards and 17 touchdowns, and gaining 1,329 yards and 17 scores on the ground. He also played three seasons of baseball and four seasons of basketball. His mentor was Hasani Steele, who played in the Rose Bowl with Northwestern University.

College career

Bowen was a four-year letterwinner (1996–99) at Iowa, he started his final two seasons and earned second-team All-America recognition and first-team All-Big Ten honors. He posted a career-high 109 tackles (76 solo) and two INTs as a senior and led the team with 92 tackles (57 solo) and two interceptions as a junior.

NFL career

Pre-draft measurables
Height	Weight	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press	Wonderlic
6 ft 1+1⁄8 in (1.86 m)	201 lb (91 kg)	4.49 s	1.53 s	2.61 s	4.09 s	7.06 s	33 in (0.84 m)	9 ft 7 in (2.92 m)	12 reps	x
All from NFL Combine.^[1]

St. Louis Rams

Matt Bowen was drafted in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams. He was the 198th player to be selected overall and the final player to be selected before the New England Patriots drafted Tom Brady one pick later.^[2] He earned St. Louis' Rookie of the Year award after starting at strong safety in two contests and appearing in 16 regular season games. He also saw action in the Rams' Wild Card playoff at New Orleans. He finished the season with 21 tackles (15 solo) and two passes broken up. He also recorded 21 special teams tackles to tie for the club lead.

Green Bay Packers

In 2001, Bowen signed with the Green Bay Packers to provide depth and help to the Packers secondary and special teams. He started the 2001 campaign with St. Louis, but suffered a broken right foot in the season opener and was inactive for the following two games. He was placed on injured reserve on October 3 and was eventually waived on November 6. He played in Green Bay's last five games on defense and special teams, recording four special teams tackles.

In 2002, Bowen appeared in all 16 games, starting six, contributing as a backup safety, a valued special teams contributor as well as a weekly participant in the club's dime package defense. He was named the starter at strong safety during Weeks 4–7 when Antuan Edwards was sidelined with a fractured forearm. He also started at free safety for Darren Sharper in the regular-season finale. He made his first-career postseason start against Atlanta in the NFC Wild Card playoff contest, responding to the challenge with a game- and career-high 15 tackles and two passes defensed. He finished the season with a career-high 42 tackles (27 solo), good for second among reserves. Bowen also added a forced fumble, one interception and seven passes defended.

Washington Redskins

Bowen signed with the Washington Redskins as a restricted free agent from the Green Bay Packers in March 2003. For the first time in his NFL career, Bowen started all 16 games in a season. He finished his campaign with 94 tackles (73 solo), three interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

In 2004, Bowen started the first five games at strong safety for the Redskins before suffering a torn ACL on his right knee on a special teams play. He was placed on injured reserve on October 11.

In 2005, Bowen saw action in 13 games, tallied 14 tackles, including 13 solo.

Buffalo Bills

On March 10, 2006, the Washington Redskins released him as an unrestricted free-agent, upon which on March 16, 2006, he signed a two-year, $2 million contract with the Buffalo Bills, which included a $300,000 signing bonus.^[3] He appeared in five games for the Bills and was subsequently released on March 1, 2007.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2000	STL	16	2	39	35	4	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
2001	STL	1	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2001	GNB	5	0	4	2	2	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2002	GNB	16	6	60	42	18	0.0	0	1	0	0	0	6	0	0	0	0
2003	WAS	16	16	85	76	9	0.0	0	3	44	0	44	7	2	2	5	0
2004	WAS	5	5	23	19	4	2.0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0
2005	WAS	13	1	14	13	1	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	0
2006	BUF	5	0	2	2	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
		77	30	227	189	38	2.0	1	4	44	0	44	18	3	2	5	0

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles
Year	Team	GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2000	STL	1	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2001	GNB	2	0	1	1	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2002	GNB	1	1	15	10	5	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0
2005	WAS	1	0	1	1	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
		5	1	17	12	5	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0

After playing career

Bowen currently works as a sports journalist and NFL writer for ESPN where he provides a former player's perspective on the inner workings of the league. He previously spent time working for Bleacher Report and the National Football Post website and has been a contributor to the Chicago Tribune website.^[4] He was also contributor on the Boers and Bernstein show.

He also earned a master's in writing and publishing from DePaul University.^[4]^[5]

Bowen currently is an assistant coach for football at IC Catholic Prep high school in Elmhurst, Illinois, which is the town where Bowen lives.^[6]

Bowen and his wife, Shawn, have four sons.^[7]

Related Research Articles

Adam Jason Archuleta is an American former professional football player who was a safety for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils, and was selected in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams with the 20th overall pick.

Oshiomogho Isaac "O.J." Atogwe is a Canadian former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He most recently served as the secondary coach for the Memphis Express of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). He was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal. Atogwe was also a member of the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.

Nicholas Cordell Collins is an American former professional football safety for seven seasons for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, and was selected by the Packers in the second round of the 2005 NFL draft. Collins led the league in interceptions returned for touchdowns and interception return yards in the 2008 season. In Super Bowl XLV, he intercepted Ben Roethlisberger for a touchdown as the Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31–25.

John Terrence Lynch Jr. is an American football executive and former safety who is the general manager of the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stanford and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 1993 NFL draft, later winning Super Bowl XXXVII with them. Lynch also spent four seasons with the Denver Broncos before retiring in 2008 and working as a color commentator for NFL on Fox games until being named general manager of the 49ers in 2017. He made nine Pro Bowls during his career and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Shawn William Barber is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Richmond. He also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans.

Roger A. "Rocky" McIntosh Jr. is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Miami.

Anthony B. Smith is a former American football safety who played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for Syracuse, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Smith has also been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, and Tennessee Titans. He is a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers in 2008 and the Packers in 2010. Smith retired from professional football in 2012.

William Edwards Blackmon is a former American football safety and return specialist. He played college football for the Boston College Eagles, and was selected in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He has also played for the New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins, and briefly for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

Ryan Terry Clark is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the LSU Tigers, and was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2002. Clark also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and for the Washington Redskins. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII, and made a Pro Bowl in 2011.

LaRon Louis Landry is an American former professional football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for LSU Tigers, and earned consensus All-American honors. The Washington Redskins selected him with the sixth overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. He also played for the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts.

Patrick A. Dennis is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, and Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Barry Michael Church is a former American football safety. He played college football at the University of Toledo and signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2010. Church has also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ha'Sean Treshon "Ha Ha" Clinton-Dix is an American former professional football player who was a safety for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Green Bay Packers. He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and was selected by the Packers in the first round of the 2014 NFL draft. He later played for the Washington Redskins and the Chicago Bears, before briefly appearing with the Las Vegas Raiders. He is currently the Director of Player Development for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Su'a Kristopher Cravens is a former American football safety. He played college football at USC, and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Dayarlo Jamal Swearinger Sr. is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at South Carolina and was selected by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, and Indianapolis Colts.

Micah Richmond Hyde is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Iowa and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL draft.

Jeff Heath is a former American football safety. He played college football at Saginaw Valley State University. Heath signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He also played for the Las Vegas Raiders and New Orleans Saints.

Bashaud Breeland is a former American football cornerback. He played college football at Clemson, and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He also played for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Kansas City Chiefs, having won Super Bowl LIV with the latter.

Adrian Gerald Amos Jr. is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Penn State, and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft.

Eddie Jackson is an American football safety who is a free agent. He has previously played for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama.

References

↑ Matt Bowen, Pro Scout Draft.com
↑ "2000 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
↑ Bills Sign Safety Bowen
1 2 "Matt Bowen (bio)". National Football Post. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2009.
↑ "Matt Bowen".
↑ https://www.dailyherald.com/20240202/prep-football/one-of-the-best-decisions-ive-made/
↑ https://www.dailyherald.com/20240202/prep-football/one-of-the-best-decisions-ive-made/

External links

Career statistics and player information from NFL.com · Pro Football Reference ·

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Matt Bowen, Pro Scout Draft.com

[2] "2000 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.

[3] Bills Sign Safety Bowen

[NFPBio-4] 1 2 "Matt Bowen (bio)". National Football Post. Archived from the original on February 16, 2009. Retrieved February 18, 2009.

[5] "Matt Bowen".

[6] ttps://www.dailyherald.com/20240202/prep-football/one-of-the-best-decisions-ive-made/

[7] ttps://www.dailyherald.com/20240202/prep-football/one-of-the-best-decisions-ive-made/

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]