Stephen Bowen (American football)

Bowen was signed by the Dallas Cowboys on May 4, after going undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft. He was released on September 2 and signed to the team's practice squad two days later. On November 8, he was promoted to the active roster and appeared in the season-ending loss to the Detroit Lions, recording his first career sack against Jon Kitna.

In 2007, Bowen served as a back-up to starting right defensive end Chris Canty, recorded 9 quarterback pressures (fourth on the team) and 23 tackles, ranking him 5th on the team among defensive linemen. The next year, he played in 14 games (he was inactive twice) and recorded 28 tackles, 9 quarterback pressures.[2]

In 2009, he appeared in all 16 games (2 starts) as the backup to Igor Olshansky and recorded a then career-high 31 tackles, 3 sacks and 33 quarterback pressures. In 2010, he appeared in all 16 games, started 9 in place of an injured Marcus Spears, finished with 25 tackles (10 solo), 12 quarterback pressures, 1.5 sacks and one pass defensed.[3]

On July 28, the Washington Redskins signed Bowen to a five-year, $27.5 million contract.[4] Bowen was named the starting right defensive end. In his first season with the Redskins, even though he was diagnosed with a third degree PCL tear on November 28, he started in all 16 games for the first time in his career. At the end of the 2011 season, Bowen set new career highs with 58 tackles and six sacks. [5] He received the team's Ed Block Courage Award not just for overcoming injury, but also the passing of his son and his mother-in-law.

Bowen received arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in mid-April.[6] On November 14 during the Redskins' bye week, he was made a co-defensive captain after a team vote.[7] In the Week 14 win against the Cleveland Browns, he tore his upper left biceps and would still play for the rest of the regular season. He would make an essential defensive move in the next week against the Philadelphia Eagles. During the Eagles last attempt to tie the game and with seconds remaining, Bowen put enough pressure on Nick Foles to make him throw the ball into the turf.[8] Despite one second remaining on the clock, Foles would receive an intentional grounding penalty, ending the game and giving the Redskins the victory. He registered 51 tackles (31 solo), 32 quarterback pressures, 3 passes defensed and one sack.

In the Week 7 win against the Chicago Bears, Bowen suffered a tear in his right PCL.[9] He continued to play through the injury until he further injured his right knee in a Week 11 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. On November 26, the Redskins moved him to injured reserve due to needing a microfracture surgery to repair his torn PCL.[10] He finished the season with 19 tackles (11 solo) and one pass defensed.

Having spent all of training camp on the PUP list, it was confirmed that he would remain there at the start of the 2014 season.[11] He was placed on the active roster on October 18.[12] He was released on February 27, 2015, after appearing in just 8 games (3 starts), while registering 11 tackles and no sacks.[13]

Bowen was signed as a free agent by the New York Jets on March 24, reuniting with Todd Bowles, who was a Dallas Cowboys assistant coach.[14] He was a reserve player and appeared in 15 games with one start. He announced his retirement on June 1, 2016, signing a one-day contract with the Washington Redskins. Bowen finished with 128 games (57 starts), 175 tackles (103 solo), 12.5 sacks and 9 passes defensed.

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Key

• GP: games played
• COMB: combined tackles
• TOTAL: total tackles
• AST: assisted tackles
• SACK: sacks
• FF: forced fumbles
• FR: fumble recoveries
• FR YDS: fumble return yards
• INT: interceptions
• IR YDS: interception return yards
• AVG IR: average interception return
• LNG: longest interception return
• TD: interceptions returned for touchdown
• PD: passes defensed