The American Story franchise is all set to return with its fourth addition, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez. It was released on September 17, 2024. American Sports Story delves into the life of ex-NFL player Aaron Hernandez and is based on a true story.

Hernandez had a successful career as a tight end. Till 2009, Hernandez was on his university’s football team. With his team at the University of Florida, he secured a national championship. He was also given the title of the nation’s best tight end. Shortly after, Hernandez became a player for the New England Patriots. Initially, he was a part of a tight end duo with Rob Gronkowski.

After the partnership ended, Hernandez signed a five year, $40 million contract with the New England Patriots. The contract also offered a $12.5 million signing bonus. At the time, he was the only tight end to ever receive such a large signing bonus.

Hernandez also played a major role in taking the Patriots to the Superbowl. In his personal life, Hernandez was engaged to Shayanna Jenkins and had a daughter with her. While Hernandez was climbing the ladder of professional football, he was constantly running into trouble with the law. Despite his athletic ability, his anger issues caused NFL teams to be concerned about his behaviour.

What led to the downfall of Aaron Hernandez from American Sports Story?

As a teenager, Hernandez got into a fight in a Florida bar. This led to a deferred prosecution agreement. He was also questioned about his involvement in the shooting of two men.

In 2008, Hernandez was suspended from his team. He tested positive for marijuana use. What led to the ex-NFL player’s downfall was his involvement in the murder of semi-professional football player, Odin Lloyd.

Hernandez in 2013 was charged with shooting and murdering Odin Lloyd. Lloyd had been dating Hernandez’s fiance’s sister. Lloyd’s body was found shot in an industrial park near the ex-NFL player’s house, as described in American Sports Story.

Prosecutors later stated that Hernandez was angry at Lloyd as the latter spoke to people at a bar whom the former did not like. He also faced two drive-by shooting and murder charges on top of being charged with Lloyd’s murder.

While the Patriots got him released, he was eventually charged and arrested with firearms charges and first-degree murder of Lloyd. Hernandez was imprisoned for life without possibility of parole. Charges against him for double homicide were soon dropped.

In the aftermath of his arrest, Patriots along with Puma and Muscle Milk cut all ties with Hernandez. He was no more featured on EA sports video games.

Hernandez served his sentence for four years before he died by hanging himself with a bedsheet in his cell. He died days after his acquittal of the two additional murder charges.

After his death, an autopsy revealed Hernandez severely suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease found in countless football players. Hernandez’s lawyer, Jose Baez told PEOPLE that his family thought that the CTE diagnosis “explained a lot of things that Aaron did, including his supposed suicide.”

Following the diagnosis, Hernandez’s family tried to sue NFL for $20 million dollars but was unable to as their lawsuit was dismissed, as explored in American Sports Story.

American Sports Story released on September 17, 2024.

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