He played college football for the Florida State Seminoles and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL) in the ninth round of the 1988 NFL draft.
McGowan played college football at Florida State University.
As a senior in 1987 he was an All-American and won the Butkus Award given to the nation's best linebacker.
McGowan played for the Birmingham Fire of the World Football League during the 1991 and 1992 seasons.
[4] In 1993, McGowan played for the Orlando Predators of the Arena Football League.