Larry McGrew
Encyclopedia
Lawrence "Larry" McGrew (July 23, 1957 – April 2, 2004) was a retired American football
linebacker
in the National Football League
.
at Contra Costa College
and the University of Southern California
, and started in two Rose Bowls. During the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft
, he was selected by the New England Patriots as an outside linebacker.
New England Patriots
and New York Giants
between 1980 and 1990.
He helped New England reach the Super Bowl
in 1986 and earned a championship ring
when New York beat Buffalo in Super Bowl XXV
.
between the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears
in 1986. One of the most famous plays in Super Bowl history was William "The Refrigerator" Perry
's touchdown run. Lawrence was on the receiving end of the hit that propelled Perry into the endzone and into Super Bowl history. Lawrence was no match for Perry's momentum and wide girth and was consequently run over and flattened by Perry in the end zone. When Lawrence didn't get up immediately after the play a teammate came over and asked him if he was he okay. Lawrence replied "Yeah, I'm fine. But I just made ESPN
highlights for eternity."
McGrew collapsed at his home in Lancaster, California
, due to a massive heart attack
. Larry leaves his wife, Charyce McGrew and their two children Kelsey and Kayman in addition to three children, Larry (currently a Barber/Hair Stylist,) Aaron and Annalyse, by a previous marriage to Elaine McGrew; she lost her father in 2002 - who currently resides in El Sabronte, CA.
thief named Frederick William McGrew III illegally adopted Lawrence's name and career statistics to get a job as an assistant football coach at Gavilan College in California. The impostor was fired five weeks later and arrested. He told police he was Lawrence's nephew and repeated the claim at his initial court appearance, but it was all a lie.
In December, Frederick McGrew was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and 160 hours of community service
for stealing Lawrence's identity and for fraudulently using an Ohio woman's Social Security number.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
.
College career
Lawrence McGrew played footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Contra Costa College
Contra Costa College
Contra Costa College, in San Pablo, California, is the west campus of the Contra Costa Community College District. It is part of the California community colleges system, one of the three college systems in California.- History :...
and the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, and started in two Rose Bowls. During the second round of the 1980 NFL Draft
1980 NFL Draft
The 1980 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 29–30, 1980. The league also held a supplemental draft after the regular draft and...
, he was selected by the New England Patriots as an outside linebacker.
Professional career
McGrew played for the National Football LeagueNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
and New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
between 1980 and 1990.
He helped New England reach the Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
in 1986 and earned a championship ring
Championship ring
A championship ring is a ring presented to members of winning teams in professional sports leagues, and—in North America—college tournaments. In recent years, it has become common for American, and Canadian high schools to give championship rings to teams that win the state or provincial...
when New York beat Buffalo in Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV
Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27, 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 1990 regular season. The National Football Conference Champion New York Giants defeated the American Football Conference ...
.
Super Bowl XX
An excellent linebacker and relentless defender, McGrew will forever be remembered for a play he didn't make that occurred during Super Bowl XXSuper Bowl XX
Super Bowl XX was an American football championship game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1985 regular season...
between the New England Patriots and Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1986. One of the most famous plays in Super Bowl history was William "The Refrigerator" Perry
William Perry (American football)
William Perry is a former professional American football player. He is best known for his years as a defensive lineman for the Chicago Bears. In reference to his large size, he was popularly known as "The Refrigerator" or, abbreviated, "The Fridge".-Life and athletic career:Perry was born in...
's touchdown run. Lawrence was on the receiving end of the hit that propelled Perry into the endzone and into Super Bowl history. Lawrence was no match for Perry's momentum and wide girth and was consequently run over and flattened by Perry in the end zone. When Lawrence didn't get up immediately after the play a teammate came over and asked him if he was he okay. Lawrence replied "Yeah, I'm fine. But I just made ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
highlights for eternity."
Death
Lawrence McGrew, the former NFL linebacker who was once the victim of identity theft, died on April 2, 2004. He was 46.McGrew collapsed at his home in Lancaster, California
Lancaster, California
Lancaster is a charter city in northern Los Angeles County, in the high desert, near the Kern County line. Lancaster currently ranks as the 30th largest city in California, and the 148th largest city in the United States. Lancaster is the principal city within the Antelope Valley...
, due to a massive heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. Larry leaves his wife, Charyce McGrew and their two children Kelsey and Kayman in addition to three children, Larry (currently a Barber/Hair Stylist,) Aaron and Annalyse, by a previous marriage to Elaine McGrew; she lost her father in 2002 - who currently resides in El Sabronte, CA.
Identity Stolen
A ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
thief named Frederick William McGrew III illegally adopted Lawrence's name and career statistics to get a job as an assistant football coach at Gavilan College in California. The impostor was fired five weeks later and arrested. He told police he was Lawrence's nephew and repeated the claim at his initial court appearance, but it was all a lie.
In December, Frederick McGrew was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and 160 hours of community service
Community service
Community service is donated service or activity that is performed by someone or a group of people for the benefit of the public or its institutions....
for stealing Lawrence's identity and for fraudulently using an Ohio woman's Social Security number.