Background

William "Willie" Lee McGinest was born on December 11, 1971, in Long Beach, California. McGinest, the second of four children, went to Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where he was an all-state football and basketball player. In football, he was named to various all-star teams and received All-American honors from Super Prep, Blue Chip, Tom Lemming magazines, and all-city, all-state, and all-region awards as a linebacker in 1989. He had 107 tackles, 18 sacks, two fumble recoveries, four passes defended (including an interception), and four blocked kicks. McGinest was inducted into the Poly Football Hall of Fame in 2009. During the 1989-90 season, he was named "Best in the West" by the Long Beach Press-Telegram, as well as All-CIF Southern Section and all-league accolades, averaging 14 points per game.

Career

New England Patriots

McGinest was selected in the first round (fourth overall) of the 1994 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He was a vital part of the New England Patriots Super Bowl victories in 2001, 2003, and 2004. In 1996 and 2003, he was named to the Pro Bowl both times. McGinest was used differently in Super Bowl XXXIX than he usually is. The Patriots shifted him to the defensive line as a defensive end to discourage Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb from scrambling. He usually lined up as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.

McGinest broke two NFL postseason milestones in a 2005 wild card playoff win over the Jacksonville Jaguars: most sacks in a game (4.5) and most career postseason sacks (16), surpassing Bruce Smith. For the Patriots, his 78 career sacks rank third all-time.

The Patriots released McGinest on March 9, 2006.

Cleveland Browns

McGinest signed with the Cleveland Browns on March 15, 2006, reuniting with head coach Romeo Crennel, McGinest's defensive coordinator during his time with the Patriots. McGinest agreed to a three-year, $12 million contract that included $6 million in guarantees and bonuses. In an interview before the 2008 season, he revealed that he would be retiring in the winter after playing his final year of professional football. He declared in July 2009 that he wanted to finish his career with the Patriots. He signed a one-day contract during his Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony on August 5, 2015.

Trial for Assault

When a female USC student accused McGinest and teammates Michael Jones and Jason Oliver of sexual assault on October 15, 1990, they were charged with violence and false imprisonment.

On June 20 of that year, the occurrence in question occurred. She was pulled into a dormitory room, pinned to a bed, and sexually abused, according to the 23-year-old summer school counselor. According to the participants, the woman entered the room voluntarily and engaged in "horseplay." To save the athletes, key witnesses told prosecutors that Valerie Paton, a USC assistant dean of student affairs, submitted a message to campus security asking officers to withdraw the incident file so it wouldn't become public. When the athletes were accused, USC Security Guard Morris DeMayo and Valerie Paton have fired abruptly for their participation in an alleged cover-up. The three players, including McGinest, were cleared on all charges of sexual assault and false imprisonment on June 15, 1991.