Aaron Hernandez (November 6, 1989 – April 19, 2017) was an American football tight end who played for the New England Patriots in the NFL. He gained prominence during his college years with the Florida Gators, earning first-team All-American honors and winning the 2009 BCS National Championship.
Despite his success on the field, Hernandez’s life was marred by legal troubles. In 2013, he was arrested and later convicted for the murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player. Hernandez was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was also acquitted of a 2012 double homicide but was found dead in his prison cell in 2017, with his death ruled a suicide.
In the years following his death, investigations revealed that Hernandez had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head injuries, which may have influenced his behavior.
His story has been the subject of various media portrayals, including the Netflix documentary series “Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez” and the FX series “American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez,” which delve into his rise, fall, and the complexities surrounding his life and actions.