McGrew played football at Contra Costa College and the University of Southern California, and started in two Rose Bowls.

An excellent linebacker and relentless defender, McGrew will forever be remembered for a play he didn't make that occurred during Super Bowl XX 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.

[2] In December 1999, 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.

[3] Frederick McGrew also falsely worked under the NFL star's name while working as a cook in a TGI Friday's restaurant in Salt Lake City, UT during the late 1990s, and even told at least one restaurant employee "I was the player who William "The Refrigerator" Perry ran over in the end zone to score a touchdown in Super Bowl XX."