[wysifield-embeddedaudio|eid="329366"|type="embeddedaudio"|view_mode="full"]The first Patriots draft choice under the ownership of the Kraft family has been elected by fans as the 24th member of the team's Hall of Fame. Former linebacker/defensive end Willie McGinest thanked fans, the Kraft family, the media who cover the team, and his former teammates and coaches for helping achieve this milestone.
"I'm honored to be the 24th inductee," McGinest told reporters on a conference call. "It's a humbling experience. I know I was one of a couple of really, really talented players that were also deserving. I'm just happy and blessed to be in this position."
McGinest beat out cornerback Raymond Clayborn and offensive tackle Leon Gray in voting that took place online earlier this spring.
Check out our favorite photos of former Patriots LB Willie McGinest (1994-2005), who was voted by the fans for 2015 induction to the Patriots Hall of Fame.
St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, bottom, is sacked by New England Patriots' Richard Seymour, top, and Willie McGinest during the fourth quarter Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest hoist the Lamar Hunt Trophy after beating the Indianapolis Colts 24-14 during their AFC Championship game in Foxboro, Mass., Sunday Jan. 18, 2004. The Patriots advance to the Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest (55) jokes with a teammate during stretching exercises at the start of practice during Patriots pre-season camp in Foxborough, Mass., Tuesday afternoon Aug. 23, 2005. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest (55) sacks Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich during the fourth quarter of their wild card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006. It was McGinest's third sack of the game. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Warren Moon, right, looks for an opening under pressure from New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest, left, during second quarter action at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday, Nov. 13, 1994. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
New England Patriots defensive end Willie McGinest, (55) walks off the field in defeat as the Buffalo Bills won 17-7 at Ralph Wilson Stadium, in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Nov. 28, 1999. (AP Photo/Alex Horvath)
New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest (55) wraps up Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning for a sack late in the fourth quarter at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. Thursday, Sept. 9, 2004. The Patriots defeated the Colts, 27-24, in the NFL season opener. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
FOR USE AS DESIRED WITH SUPER BOWL XXXIX STORIES New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest chases the action during the AFC championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)
Linebacker Willie McGinest #55 of the New England Patriots in action against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 18, 2005 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers defeated the Patriots 27-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest returns a fumble recovery for 19 yards during a football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, in Foxborough, Mass. In his 12th NFL season, New England McGinest has been on the field for more defensive plays than almost every teammate. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Jacksonville Jaguars backup quarterback David Garrard, right, is pressured by New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest (55) during the fourth quarter of their wild card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass., Saturday, Jan. 7, 2006. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
New England Patriots Willie McGinest holds the AFC Championship trophy after the Pats beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-6 at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Mass., Sunday, January 12, 1997. (AP Photo/Doug Mills)
New England Patroits Richard Seymour and Willie McGinest tackle Rams Marshall Faulk in Super Bowl XXXVI against the St.Louis Rams at the Louisiana Superdome on February 3,2002 in New Orleans, Louisiana.The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patriots Willie McGinest (55) looking to make a play against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII (38) on Sunday Febuary 1, 2004 in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin Reece)
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft sits with Willie McGinest prior to the NFL week 1 football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Sept 7, 2014 in Miami. The Dolphins won the game 33-20. (AP Photo / Jim Mahoney)
New England Patriots Willie McGinest makes a tackle during the NFL Super Bowl XXXIX football game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Jacksonville, Florida on February 6, 2005. The Patriots won 24-21. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
Willie McGinest New England Patriots - 2004 NFL Headshots (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
New England Patriots defensive end Willie McGinest speaks to the media following Super Bowl XXXVI, a 20-17 New England Patriots victory over the St. Louis Rams on February 3, 2002, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
New England Patriots Willie McGinest reacts to the crowd after their 24-14 victory over the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC Championship at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork, left, laughs with linebacker Willie McGinest prior to a practice in Foxboro, Mass., Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest (55) celebrates after an NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Patriots defeated the Colts 24-14 in the 2003 AFC Championship Game on January 18, 2004 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
McGinest recalled that he thought, coming out of the University of Southern California, that he was going to be selected by the Dallas Cowboys because of connections he had with them at the time, and that fact that he didn't receive much pre-draft attention from then-head coach Bill Parcells.
"Really didn't watch a lot of New England football," McGinest added. "In short… it all worked out pretty well."
McGinest, of course, went on to become an integral part of New England's first three Super Bowl winning teams in 2001, '03, and '04. He will be inducted in a ceremony later this summer along with defensive lineman Houston Antwine (selected in April 2 by the senior selection committee).
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