Tay Gowan

Tay Gowan's Biography

Tay Gowan, born January 7, 1998, is an American professional cornerback who has built a name for himself in the National Football League. Born and raised in Covington, Georgia, Gowan showcased an early passion and talent for football while attending Newton High School. During his senior year, his exceptional performance led to him earning First-team All-State honors as a defensive back. He posted a remarkable stat line consisting of four interceptions and 15 pass breakups, demonstrating his defensive prowess.

Gowan’s strong commitment to pursuing his career propelled him to enrol at Miami University, where he commenced his journey into collegiate football. Although he was redshirted during his first year, Gowan patiently awaited his opportunity to contribute. Following a period of limited play, he felt compelled to seek further opportunities elsewhere, which propelled a move to Butler Community College.

At Butler, Gowan’s innate talent for interceptions truly shone. In a single season, he intercepted six passes, a performance that didn’t go unrecognized as he was distinguished by the All-Jayhawk Conference. His skills were sought after, and he made a significant move by committing to transfer to the University of Central Florida.

Transitioning to the Knights, Gowan initially took up a reserve defensive back role. However, unforeseen circumstances led him to step up as a starter due to teammate injuries. A promising season followed, with Gowan finishing with a commendable 31 tackles, two interceptions, eight passes deflected, and one fumble recovery. Out of the 50 passes thrown into his coverage, only 20 were successful.

As the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, like many of his peers, Gowan chose to opt out of the respective season. However, this did not hold him back; he soon made a life-changing decision to declare early for the 2021 NFL draft.

The spotlight was truly upon Tay Gowan in 2021 as he was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the sixth round, being the 223rd overall pick of the NFL Draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract with the Cardinals on May 25, 2021. Following his stint at the Cardinals, he was traded along with a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles, in exchange for tight end Zach Ertz, on October 15, 2021.

However, the shift to the Eagles was quite brief, with Gowan being waived on August 30, 2022. Following this, he was drafted into the practice squad of the Minnesota Vikings on September 1, 2022. Demonstrating his undeniable potential, he was elevated to the active roster in November. Despite this, he was waived by the Vikings on August 28, 2023, and was subsequently signed to the Tennessee Titans practice squad on October 9, 2023.

Following the conclusion of the 2023 regular season, Gowan proved his worth once again by signing a reserve/future contract with the Titans on January 8, 2024. Unluckily for him, his stint with the Titans came to an abrupt end when he was waived on August 26, 2024.

Throughout his career, Tay Gowan has shown exceptional resilience and perseverance, navigating through numerous clubs and numerous challenges. His journey is a testament to his overwhelming talent and commitment to the sport he loves. As a free agent, Gowan remains committed and ready for the next chapter of his professional football career.