He played college football for the USC Trojans and was selected fourth overall by the Patriots in the 1994 NFL draft.

The second of four children, McGinest attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School,[1][2] where he garnered all-state honors in football and basketball.

[3] On the court, he earned Long Beach Press-Telegram "Best in the West," All-CIF Southern Section and all-league honors while averaging 14 points per game during the 1989–90 season.

He stated in an interview prior to the 2008 season that he would be playing his final year of professional football before retiring in the offseason.

Prior to joining the NFL Network, McGinest served similar roles at Fox Sports and ESPN.

McGinest was suspended from the NFL Network after his 2022 arrest, stemming from an incident in a Los Angeles nightclub.

[12] McGinest and teammates Michael Jones and Jason Oliver were charged with battery and false imprisonment when a female USC student accused them of sexual assault on October 15, 1990.

[14] On June 15, 1991, the three players, including McGinest, were acquitted of all sexual assault and false imprisonment charges.

On December 9, 2022, at the Delilah nightclub in West Hollywood, McGinest and several of his acquaintances physically assaulted a man who was sitting at a table at the lounge.

On May 3, 2005, the city council of Long Beach declared that every year, May 3 will be recognized as Willie McGinest Day in recognition of his charitable efforts and civic involvement.

[20][21] He has had cameo appearances in television shows such as Arli$$[22] and The Game, and had a small role as a detective in the film I Tried, with rap group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.