.jpg) McGrew playing for the Patriots in Super Bowl XX | |||||||||||
| No. 50, 57 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | (1957-07-23)July 23, 1957 Berkeley, California, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Died | April 5, 2004(2004-04-05) (aged 46) Lancaster, California, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||||||
| Weight | 233 lb (106 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Berkeley | ||||||||||
| College | Southern California | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1980: 2nd round, 45th overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
| |||||||||||
Lawrence McGrew (July 23, 1957 – April 2, 2004)[1] was an American professionalfootball player who was alinebacker in theNational Football League (NFL).
McGrew playedfootball atContra Costa College and theUniversity of Southern California, and started in twoRose Bowls. During the first round of the1980 NFL draft, he was selected by the New England Patriots as anoutside linebacker.
McGrew played for theNFL'sNew England Patriots andNew York Giants between 1980 and 1990.He helped New England reach theSuper Bowl in 1986 and earned achampionship ring when New York beat Buffalo inSuper Bowl XXV.
 | This sectionpossibly containsoriginal research. Pleaseimprove it byverifying the claims made and addinginline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed.(September 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
An excellent linebacker and relentless defender, McGrew will forever be remembered for a play he didn't make that occurred duringSuper Bowl XX between the New England Patriots andChicago Bears in 1986. One of the most famous plays in Super Bowl history wasWilliam "the Refrigerator" Perry's touchdown run. McGrew was on the receiving end of the hit that propelled Perry into the end zone and into Super Bowl history. McGrew was no match for Perry's momentum and wide girth and was consequently run over and flattened by Perry in the end zone. When McGrew didn't get up immediately after the play a teammate came over and asked him if he was okay. McGrew replied "Yeah, I'm fine. But I just madeESPN highlights for eternity."[citation needed]
McGrew died on April 2, 2004, at the age of 46.
| This sectionpossibly containsoriginal research. Pleaseimprove it byverifying the claims made and addinginline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed.(September 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
McGrew collapsed at his home inLancaster, California, due to a massiveheart attack. McGrew left his two children and one step-child by his wife Charyce McGrew – Celsea, Camynn and Charyce Searcy – and three children Larry, Aaron, Analeise, granddaughter Lawryn, a grandson Nehamiah by a previous marriage to Elaine McGrew; who currently resides inEl Sobrante, California.
AColoradothief named Frederick William McGrew III used Larry McGrew's name and career statistics to get a job as an assistant football coach at Gavilan College in California. The impostor was discovered five weeks later, fired and arrested; he told police he was Lawrence's nephew and repeated the claim at his initial court appearance, but it was discovered to be a lie.[2]
In December 1999, Frederick McGrew was sentenced to three years of supervised probation and 160 hours ofcommunity service for stealing Lawrence's identity and for fraudulently using an Ohio woman's Social Security number.[3]
Frederick McGrew also falsely worked under the NFL star's name while working as a cook in aTGI Friday's restaurant in Salt Lake City, UT during the late 1990s, and even told at least one restaurant employee "I was the player whoWilliam "The Refrigerator" Perry ran over in the end zone to score a touchdown inSuper Bowl XX."
It is unknown if TGI Friday's management was ever made aware of this fraud, or if their tax/payroll records were ever corrected.[4]