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22. Willie McGinest

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22. Willie McGinest

Willie McGinest was the Fourth Overall Pick in 1994, and when you are drafted that high, the pro club certainly hopes that you will have a long and fruitful career.  It is safe to say that the New England Patriots got that in McGinest.

McGinest was an All-Rookie as an Outside Linebacker, later moving to Defensive End, where he played the bulk of his career. The former USC Trojan became a cornerstone of the Patriots defense, and he would help them win three Super Bowls. Along the way, McGinest went to two Pro Bowls and netted 78 Sacks and 672 Tackles as a Patriot, the former placing him second all-time in franchise history.  His stint in New England ended in 2005 when he signed with the Cleveland Browns.

McGinest holds the record for the most playoff sacks with 16, all of which were accumulated as a Patriot.   In 2015, McGinest entered the Patriots Hall of Fame. 

The Bullet Points

  • Position: Defensive End, Linebacker
  • Acquired: Selected in the 1st Round, 4th Overall in the NFL Draft 4/24/94.
  • Departed:

    Released 3/9/06.

  • Games Played: 171
  • Notable Statistics:

    146 Games Started
    4 Interceptions
    90 Interception Return Yards
    2 Interception Return Touchdowns
    16 Forced Fumbles
    15 Fumble Recoveries
    41 Fumble Recovery Yards
    2 Fumble Recovery Touchdowns
    78.0 Quarterback Sacks
    672 Combined Tackles
    482 Solo Tackles
    190 Assisted Tackles
    79 Tackles for Loss*
    88 Approximate Value

    18 Playoff Games
    16.0 Quarterback Sacks
    75 Combined Tackles
    53 Solo Tackles
    22 Assisted Tackles
    17 Tackles for Loss*

    *Tackles for Loss was not a stat until 1999.

  • Major Accolades and Awards:

    Super Bowl Champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII & XXXIX)
    Pro Bowl (1996 & 2003)
    All-Rookie (1994)

Last modified on Saturday, 17 September 2022 15:33

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