Willie McGinest elected to Patriots Hall of Fame

Three-time Super Bowl champion Willie McGinest has been elected to the Patriots Hall of Fame. McGinest becomes the 24th member of the team's Hall of Fame and will be honored at a ceremony along with Houston Antwine over the summer.

McGinest played 12 seasons in New England and compiled 78 sacks. He was drafted by New England in 1994 and finished his career with the Cleveland Browns.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke about the impact McGinest had during his career in New England.

"Just a few months after I bought the Patriots, we drafted Willie McGinest in the first round of the 1994 NFL Draft," Patriots owner Robert Kraft said. "We came into the NFL together and will always share a special bond. During his 12-year Patriots career, Willie played a critical role in transforming us from a cellar dweller into a championship-caliber team. He was a leader of a defensive unit that propelled the Patriots to our first Super Bowl championship in 2001. His leadership during the season and dominance in the postseason proved principal to our success in winning back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004. Willie was a part of so many memorable moments for Patriots fans during his career. Now, I am looking forward to Patriots fans giving Willie a memorable moment as we celebrate his induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame."

A well-deserved honor for McGinest indeed, as he was a key cog in the Patriots defense throughout the 90s, as well as all three Super Bowl championship teams in the 2000s. He currently serves as an analyst on the NFL Network.

Follow me on Twitter - @JesseGaunce

For more of my articles, click here.