Willie McGinest: Pick #4 in the 1994 NFL Draft

Willie McGinest is a former outside linebacker out of USC, selected by the New England Patriots with the 4th overall pick (round 1) in the 1994 NFL Draft. He played 212 regular-season games from 1994 to 2008. From 1999 on, he played for the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns. He was named to 2 Pro Bowls.

Draft Details

Year

1994

Round

Round 1

Pick

4th overall

Team

New England Patriots

Position

OLB

College

USC

Willie McGinest Career Stats

2× Pro Bowl selection.
Primary starter for 13 seasons.
Ranks 2nd in the 1994 draft class in sacks (86).

Career Totals

Games	Solo Tkl	Sacks	Def INT
212	581	86	5

Defense

Season	Team	G	Solo	Ast	TFL	Sacks	QB Hits	INT	PD	FF
1999	NE	16	33	26	15	9	10	0	0	1
2000	NE	13	29	18	9	6	5	0	1	1
2001	NE	10	20	8	8	6	5	0	2	1
2002	NE	16	32	21	9	5.5	6	1	10	0
2003	NE	14	30	19	0	5	0	1	4	2
2004	NE	16	26	15	0	9	0	1	6	2
2005	NE	16	23	11	0	5.5	0	0	5	0
2006	CLE	14	24	9	0	5	10	1	2	0
2007	CLE	13	16	11	0	2.5	4	0	5	0
2008	CLE	14	31	13	0	1	7	0	2	0
Since 1999		142	264	151	41	54.5	47	4	37	7

G = games with at least one recorded statistic; the career games total in the summary above includes every game played.

Season-by-season detail is available from 1999 on; career totals above cover the full career.

Source: nflverse · Updated Sep 28, 2026

People Also Search For

More from the 1994 Draft

Rd	Pick	Team	Player	Pos	College
1	1	CIN	Dan Wilkinson	DT	Ohio State
1	2	IND	Marshall Faulk	RB	San Diego State
1	3	WAS	Heath Shuler	QB	Tennessee
1	5	IND	Trev Alberts	OLB	Nebraska
1	6	TB	Trent Dilfer	QB	Fresno State
1	7	SF	Bryant Young	DT	Notre Dame
1	8	SEA	Sam Adams	DT	Texas A&M
1	9	CLE	Antonio Langham	DB	Alabama
1	10	ARI	Jamir Miller	OLB	UCLA
4	1	NYG	Tito Wooten	DB	Louisiana-Monroe, North Carolina