He played college football at Louisiana State University, and was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2007 NFL draft.

He ranks among LSU's all-time best wide receivers, at one point holding the school's single-season record for touchdown receptions.

After the departure of wide receivers Michael Clayton and Devery Henderson to the NFL, Bowe was poised to become a starter for the Tigers.

The Tigers won that game, and Bowe finished second on the team in receiving yards while becoming one of Russell's favorite targets along with Skyler Green, Early Doucet, and Craig "Buster" Davis.

Bowe caught the game winner versus Alabama that year, giving LSU a 16–13 OT win in Tuscaloosa.

[3] Regarded as one of the top wide receivers available in the 2007 NFL draft,[4] Bowe drew comparisons to Hines Ward.

[8] Alongside his former teammates JaMarcus Russell and Buster Davis, the trio became the first quarterback/wide receiving group to be selected in the first round of the draft.

On August 5, 2007, Bowe signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs, after holding out the first week of practice at training camp.

Bowe also set the team's single-game rookie receiving record with 164 yards against the San Diego Chargers on September 30, 2007.

[14] On November 17, 2009, Bowe was suspended for 4 games for violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy, after he tested positive for a diuretic.

On November 14, 2010, almost a year after his drug suspension, Bowe set new career-highs for receptions and receiving yards in a single game versus the Denver Broncos.

In Week 11, against the struggling Arizona Cardinals Bowe extended his streak to six straight games with a touchdown, this time coming up with 2.

Bowe also broke the Chiefs' franchise record for most touchdowns in a single season during the game against the Seattle Seahawks in week 12.

[23] Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported that Bowe became the NFL's third highest-paid wide receiver in terms of total compensation on his contract.

Bowe served his suspension in the Chiefs first game of the season against the Tennessee Titans on September 7, but was allowed to play in the preseason.

[31] Although Browns general manager Ray Farmer signed Bowe during the offseason, head coach Mike Pettine chose not to use him throughout the season, saying he was not among the top four receivers on the team.

[33] Throughout the season, he was deactivated for most games and the fourth or fifth receiver on the depth chart behind Travis Benjamin, Brian Hartline, Taylor Gabriel, and Andrew Hawkins.