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Paul McGowan’s health today is his wife’s primary concern. At the same time, she is seeking answers about whether a training accident two years ago contributed to the health challenges he now faces.
Longtime Florida State football fans likely remember McGowan and his impact on the Seminoles program.
The former middle linebacker, inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame in 1994, was known for his toughness and consistency under legendary coach Bobby Bowden. He became the program’s first Butkus Award winner in 1987 and led FSU in tackles during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons from 1984-87. As a sophomore, his 14-tackle performance against Nebraska earned Associated Press Player of the Week honors.
McGowan pointed to Bowden’s emphasis on more than just winning, highlighting his commitment to his players’ personal growth, character and faith.
"Coach Bowden was like a second father, he would take you under his wing," McGowan told the Tallahassee Democrat Wednesday, Aug. 5. "He would tell you and (your family) we're going to take care of you here ... you could talk to him about anything. It did not have to be sports related. It could be something private, you just wanted some advice. Not only was he a great coach, he was a great person."
Now 60, McGowan carried that same dedication into a career with the Seminole County Fire Department, where he has served as a firefighter and paramedic for more than 25 years.
Over the past two years, however, McGowan and his wife, Jeanne, have faced significant challenges. Jeanne has publicly discussed her concerns on social media, and the family has retained legal counsel regarding matters related to a workplace training incident.
According to Jeanne McGowan, the incident occurred March 20, 2024, during a training exercise known as a "bail out" drill. She said her husband fell more than 30 feet, landing on his back on a safety mat. Jeanne told the Democrat she was not informed of the incident at the time and later learned her husband was not transported to a hospital for evaluation.
Mike Clelland, an attorney with Morgan & Morgan's Orlando office who represents the McGowans and previously worked alongside McGowan as a firefighter in Seminole County, said he has filed a petition for benefits in connection with McGowan's workers' compensation case.
Clelland told the Democrat "we allege Paul suffered serious head and neck injuries from the fall."
McGowan told the Democrat he has no memory of the drill or the fall. Weeks later, he was transferred to the Seminole County Fire Department's Community Paramedicine Program, where he continues to work today. Jeanne contends that his health has declined since the accident.
When contacted by the Democrat, Seminole County's director of communications Chris Patton released a statement Thursday, Aug. 6, that read "Seminole County Government received notification of the benefits claim. The matter is pending. Because this matter is the subject of a pending claim, Seminole County cannot comment on it. The health and safety of our personnel remain our highest priority."
Court filings from the county note that McGowan is "authorized for initial treatment" and that compensation for the neck and brain injury will be "under review" for the next 120 days.
"The moment he hit the ground, they should have loaded him into an ambulance and taken him to a hospital to get checked," Jeanne said. "That's where it begins and ends. I am heartbroken."
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Ex-FSU great Paul McGowan faces challenges after training fall
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Longtime Florida State football fans likely remember McGowan and his impact on the Seminoles program.
The former middle linebacker, inducted into the FSU Hall of Fame in 1994, was known for his toughness and consistency under legendary coach Bobby Bowden. He became the program’s first Butkus Award winner in 1987 and led FSU in tackles during his sophomore, junior and senior seasons from 1984-87. As a sophomore, his 14-tackle performance against Nebraska earned Associated Press Player of the Week honors.
McGowan pointed to Bowden’s emphasis on more than just winning, highlighting his commitment to his players’ personal growth, character and faith.
"Coach Bowden was like a second father, he would take you under his wing," McGowan told the Tallahassee Democrat Wednesday, Aug. 5. "He would tell you and (your family) we're going to take care of you here ... you could talk to him about anything. It did not have to be sports related. It could be something private, you just wanted some advice. Not only was he a great coach, he was a great person."
Now 60, McGowan carried that same dedication into a career with the Seminole County Fire Department, where he has served as a firefighter and paramedic for more than 25 years.
McGowan family seeks answers after training accident
Over the past two years, however, McGowan and his wife, Jeanne, have faced significant challenges. Jeanne has publicly discussed her concerns on social media, and the family has retained legal counsel regarding matters related to a workplace training incident.
According to Jeanne McGowan, the incident occurred March 20, 2024, during a training exercise known as a "bail out" drill. She said her husband fell more than 30 feet, landing on his back on a safety mat. Jeanne told the Democrat she was not informed of the incident at the time and later learned her husband was not transported to a hospital for evaluation.
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Mike Clelland, an attorney with Morgan & Morgan's Orlando office who represents the McGowans and previously worked alongside McGowan as a firefighter in Seminole County, said he has filed a petition for benefits in connection with McGowan's workers' compensation case.
Clelland told the Democrat "we allege Paul suffered serious head and neck injuries from the fall."
McGowan told the Democrat he has no memory of the drill or the fall. Weeks later, he was transferred to the Seminole County Fire Department's Community Paramedicine Program, where he continues to work today. Jeanne contends that his health has declined since the accident.
When contacted by the Democrat, Seminole County's director of communications Chris Patton released a statement Thursday, Aug. 6, that read "Seminole County Government received notification of the benefits claim. The matter is pending. Because this matter is the subject of a pending claim, Seminole County cannot comment on it. The health and safety of our personnel remain our highest priority."
Court filings from the county note that McGowan is "authorized for initial treatment" and that compensation for the neck and brain injury will be "under review" for the next 120 days.
"The moment he hit the ground, they should have loaded him into an ambulance and taken him to a hospital to get checked," Jeanne said. "That's where it begins and ends. I am heartbroken."
Here is FSU's 2026 football schedule
- Aug. 29: vs. New Mexico State, 7 p.m., CW Network
- Sept. 7: vs SMU, 7:30 p.m., ESPN
- Sept. 19: at Alabama, 3:30 p.m., ABC
- Sept. 26: vs Central Arkansas, TBD
- Oct. 3: vs. Virginia, TBD
- Oct. 9: at Louisville, 7 p.m., ESPN
- Oct. 17: at Miami, TBD
- Oct. 31: vs. Clemson, TBD
- Nov. 7: at Boston College, TBD
- Nov. 13: at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m., ESPN
- Nov. 21: vs. NC State, TBD
- Nov. 27: vs Florida, 3:30 p.m., ABC
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Ex-FSU great Paul McGowan faces challenges after training fall
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