Stephen Bowen (American football) facts for kids
Bowen with the Washington Redskins in 2011
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| Position: | Defensive end | ||||||||||
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| Born: | March 28, 1984 Holly Ridge, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight: | 300 lb (136 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school: | Dix Hills (NY) Half Hollow Hills West | ||||||||||
| College: | Hofstra | ||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2006 | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Stephen Alexander Bowen (born March 28, 1984) is a former American football player. He played as a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL). He was part of the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, and New York Jets teams. Before joining the NFL, he played college football at Hofstra University.
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Early Life and Football Beginnings
Stephen Bowen started playing football at a young age. When he was 7, he played pee-wee football for the Baldwin Bombers. Later, he played for the Roosevelt Rough Riders and then in North Babylon, New York. His father was often his coach during these years.
High School Sports Achievements
Bowen went to Half Hollow Hills High School West. There, he was a talented athlete in both football and basketball. In football, he played on both offense as a running back and on defense as a linebacker. In his final year of high school, he ran for 235 yards and scored four touchdowns. He also caught passes for 330 yards and five touchdowns. On defense, he made 97 tackles.
In 2018, Stephen Bowen was honored for his sports career. He was added to the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame for his achievements in American football.
College Football Career
Stephen Bowen received a scholarship to play football at Hofstra University. When he joined the college team, he changed his position to defensive end. He became a starter for three years.
Freshman and Sophomore Seasons
As a freshman, he played in 5 games and made 3 tackles. In his second year, he played in 12 games. He recorded 49 tackles, which included 9.5 tackles that stopped the opponent for a loss of yards. He also had 3 sacks and recovered one fumble. He made 8 tackles in a game against the University of Rhode Island.
Junior and Senior Seasons
In his junior year, Bowen started as the right defensive end. He made 68 tackles, which was the fourth-highest on his team. He also had 7.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. He recorded 9 tackles in a game against the University of New Hampshire.
During his senior year, he had 48 tackles, with 11 of them being for a loss of yards. He also had 5.5 sacks, which was the second-highest on his team. He made one interception and defended 2 passes. He ended his college career with a total of 168 tackles and 11.5 sacks. He also had one interception that he returned for a 31-yard touchdown.
Professional NFL Career
Stephen Bowen began his professional football journey in 2006. He played for three different NFL teams during his career.
Time with the Dallas Cowboys
Joining the Cowboys (2006)
After the 2006 NFL draft, Stephen Bowen was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. This means he wasn't chosen in the draft but was still given a chance to play. He was first on the team's practice squad. Later, he was moved to the main roster. He played in one game and got his first career sack against Jon Kitna.
Playing as a Backup (2007-2008)
In 2007, Bowen was a backup player for the starting right defensive end, Chris Canty. He made 23 tackles and put pressure on the opposing quarterback 9 times. In 2008, he played in 14 games and had 28 tackles.
Increased Role (2009-2010)
In 2009, Bowen played in all 16 games and started 2 of them. He had a career-high 31 tackles and 3 sacks. He also pressured the quarterback 33 times. In 2010, he played in all 16 games again. He started 9 games when Marcus Spears was injured. He finished that season with 25 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Time with the Washington Redskins
First Season and Challenges (2011)
In July 2011, the Washington Redskins signed Stephen Bowen to a five-year contract. He became the starting right defensive end for the team. In November, he suffered a knee injury but managed to play through it. He started all 16 games that season, which was a first for him. He set new personal bests with 41 tackles and six sacks. He also received the team's Ed Block Courage Award. This award recognized his strength in dealing with his injury and the sad passing of his young son and mother-in-law.
Overcoming Injuries (2012)
In April 2012, Bowen had surgery on his left knee to fix problems from his previous injury. In November, his teammates voted him a co-defensive captain. In a game against the Cleveland Browns, he tore a muscle in his arm but continued to play for the rest of the season.
He made a very important play in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles. With only seconds left, he pressured the Eagles' quarterback, Nick Foles, causing him to throw the ball into the ground. This play resulted in a penalty that ended the game, giving the Redskins the win. That season, he had 51 tackles and 1 sack.
Dealing with More Injuries (2013-2014)
In 2013, Bowen injured his right knee in a game against the Chicago Bears. He kept playing but injured it further in another game against the Philadelphia Eagles. In November, he was placed on the injured reserve list because he needed surgery on his knee. He finished the season with 19 tackles.
In 2014, Bowen started the season on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list while recovering. He returned to play in October. He appeared in 8 games and had 11 tackles. He was released by the Redskins in February 2015.
Final Season with the New York Jets
In March 2015, Stephen Bowen signed with the New York Jets. He reunited with Todd Bowles, who had been a coach with the Dallas Cowboys. He played as a reserve player in 15 games. On June 1, 2016, he announced his retirement from professional football. He signed a special one-day contract with the Washington Redskins to retire as a member of that team. He ended his NFL career having played in 128 games, with 175 tackles and 12.5 sacks.
Personal Life
Stephen Bowen married Tiffany Johnson in March 2008. They later divorced. They have three children: a daughter named Trinity, and twin boys named Stephen III and Skyler. His twin sons were born early on June 28, 2011, the same day he signed with the Redskins. Sadly, Skyler passed away 10 days later. In December 2011, Bowen received the Redskins’ Ed Block Courage Award. This award recognized his inspiring strength and courage in dealing with the loss of his son.
Stephen Bowen is good friends with former NFL defensive end Jason Hatcher. They both started their NFL careers with the Dallas Cowboys in 2006.
