John Cowan (born 8 January 1949) is a Northern Ireland international footballer who played as a midfielder.
Cowan was born in Belfast, and began his senior career with Irish League club Crusaders before moving to England, where he spent six years with Newcastle United but played only ten first-team matches.
Two years as player-manager of League of Ireland club Drogheda preceded a return to England with Fourth Division club Darlington and non-league club Scarborough, but a knee injury forced his retirement at the relatively young age of 27.
After retiring as a player, he set up a sports trophy business in Newcastle upon Tyne.
This biographical article relating to Northern Irish association football is a stub.