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).
 

GP/GS (Playoffs): 33/20 (0/0)

• McGowan joins the Patriots in 2009 as a veteran of four NFL seasons, all with the Chicago Bears (2005-08).
• McGowan enters 2009 having played in 25 career games with 13 starts and has recorded 115 career tackles (74 solo), two interceptions, five passes defensed, one fumble forced, one fumble recovery and 16 special teams tackles.
• In 2007, set career highs in games played (14), starts (9), tackles (80) and recorded his first two career interceptions.
• 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.

2009 (8/7/0/0): Made his Patriots debut versus Buffalo (9/14) ... Led the team in tackles once (vs. TEN) and tied for the team lead once (at DEN) ... Led the team in special teams tackles twice (vs. BUF, vs. TEN) ... Recovered his first fumble since the 2007 season, grabbing a loose ball on the opening kickoff of the Patriots' 27-21 victory over the Baltimore Ravens (10/4) ... Registered a single-game career high two passes defensed at Denver (10/11).

Buffalo (9/14): Saw significant action in reserve at safety and on special teams coverage and return units in the Patriots' 25-24 comeback victory over the Bills ... Led the team with two solo special teams tackles. at N.Y. Jets (9/20): Made his first Patriots start, playing at free safety as the defense opened in a nickel package at the Jets ... Led the secondary registering four solo tackles ... Chipped in one special teams tackle. Atlanta (9/27): Started at free safety in the Patriots' 26-10 victory over the Falcons ... Registered his second career forced fumble with a thundering hit on Michael Turner in the second quarter, creating a fumble that was recovered by James Sanders and led to a drive that resulted in a Stephen Gostkowski field goal ... Tallied four tackles (2 solo) along with two special teams tackles ... Helped to limit tight end Tony Gonzalez to just one reception ... Registered one quarterback hit. Baltimore (10/4): Started at free safety in the Patriots' 27-21 win over the Ravens ... Registered his second career fumble recovery, pouncing on a Chris Carr fumble that was created on a hit by Eric Alexander on the opening kickoff, setting up a drive that would yield a Stephen Gostkowski field goal ... McGowan's fumble recovery marked the first time the Patriots had a fumble recovery on the opening kickoff since Sept. 3, 2000, versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, when Kato Serwanga recovered a fumble created on Larry Whigham's hit on Bucs kick returner Karl Williams ... Teamed up with Gary Guyton to stuff Willis McGahee for no gain on a crucial fourth-and-one try in the fourth quarter, forcing a turnover on downs ... Made six tackles (4 solo) ... Busted up the middle to apply pressure on Joe Flacco with a quarterback hit, forcing an incomplete pass on the Ravens' final drive. at Denver (10/11): Started at free safety and tied for the team lead in tackles, making 12 stops (8 solo) ... Recorded a fumble recovery for a second straight week, recovering a first-quarter Knowshon Moreno fumble forced on a Jerod Mayo hit ... Tallied a single-game career high two passes defensed. Tennessee (10/18): Started at free safety while also playing on special teams coverage and return units as the Patriots tied the largest margin of victory by team since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger with a 59-0 whitewashing ... Led team in both defensive tackles and special teams tackles, collecting seven stops (5 solo) in coverage and two tackles on kickoff returns ... Forced a fourth-quarter fumble by Ahmard Hall that was recovered by Junior Seau. at Tampa Bay (10/25): Started at free safety in the Patriots' 35-7 win over the Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium ... Tallied a single-game career high two passes defensed ... Broke up Josh Johnson's pass attempt to Antonio Bryant in the third quarter ... Made five solo tackles. Miami (11/8): Started at free safety in the Patriots' 27-17 win over the Dolphins ... Led the secondary with eight tackles (6 solo) ... Hauled down Ricky Williams for a 3-yard loss in the first quarter ... Teamed with Jerod Mayo to stuff Ronnie Brown for no gain in the third quarter ... Created one forced fumble.

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 seeing time at both strong safety and free safety ... Twice listed as a day-of-game inactive ... 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 ... Also made a career high 10 special teams tackles ... Led or tied for the team lead in tackles three times ... Tallied a team-leading season high 13 tackles (9 solo) at Detroit (9/30) ... Recorded his first career interception, picking off a Brett Favre pass in the Bears' victory over the Packers (10/7) ... Led the team with 12 tackles (7 solo) at Washington (12/6) ... Posted another 12-tackle (7 solo) performance for the second straight week while leading the team at Minnesota (12/17) ... Added his second interception of the season against the Vikings ... Tied for the team lead with seven tackles (5 solo) versus Green Bay (12/23).
 

2006 (1/0 - Chicago): Missed games one through seven after being placed on the physically unable to perform list ... Made his lone appearance of the season after being activated from the physically unable to perform list for game eight 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 ... Started the final three games of his rookie campaign ... Finished with 29 tackles, including one tackle for a loss ... Also made four special teams tackles ... Saw his first extensive action at safety at Pittsburgh (12/11) and responded with eight tackles, including one for a loss ... 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) ... Placed on injured reserve with a knee injury (1/10).
 

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 ... Notched 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 ... Earned the "Hammer Award" for the Black Bears' best special teams hit in four games in his freshman year while making 14 special teams tackles.
 

• Brandon attended the University of Maine from 2001-04. Entering the 2009 season, just two 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.
• Brandon has recorded 115 career tackles in just 25 career NFL games, averaging nearly five tackles per game throughout his career.

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 ... Selected MVP of the North/South All-Star game ... Majored in business at Maine.