Fabien Alfranso Bownes (born February 29, 1972, in Aurora, Illinois) is a former professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played six seasons for the Chicago Bears (1995, 1997–1998) and the Seattle Seahawks (1999–2001). He also ran track and graduated from Western Illinois University with a major in Communication. He began graduate studies in Communication during his last semester at that university, when he participated in on-campus tryouts for National Football League teams. He also has a brother that plays tennis for Western Illinois University. (Mandela Shepard)