Aaron Hernandez was one of the world’s most recognizable and popular NFL stars. He was a tight end for the New England Patriots; moreover, he was well-known for his spectacular performance in American football. Hernandez was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd and was found dead while serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
In this article, we will learn about his early life, professional career, and the trouble with the law; for that reason, it is recommended to read till the end for more facts.
AARON HERNANDEZ: TROUBLE WITH THE LAW
No doubt, Aaron was an excellent football player who proved himself by achieving awards such as all-American at the University of Florida. On June 17, 2013, he was convicted of the first-degree murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-pro NFL player.
According to different resources, Hernandez had attempted four more murders; among them, two were proved to be done by him. The rest remained a mystery as Hernandez committed suicide on April 19, 2017, in his prison cell. Before committing suicide, he was declared innocent of the allegations of two murders.
The court overturned the murder case because when the defendant dies, the issue is overturned before considering the appeal. Aaron Hernandez has a daughter born in 2012 to Shayanna Jenkins- Aaron Hernandez’s girlfriend.
In an interview with a TV show, Shayanna said that she was unaware of those murders; moreover, it was later discovered that Hernandez was suffering from acute CTE (a brain disease).
EARLY LIFE
Aaron Hernandez was born in Bristol, Connecticut, on November 6, 1989, to Dennis and Terri Hernandez. Growing up, Aaron was very close with his older brother D.J.
According to Dennis SanSoucie, who was Hernandez’s occasional friend, “It was like meeting your twin brother when I met Aaron.” Furthermore, while pointing toward Aaron Hernandez, Dennis said he was a funny guy with an infectious personality.
As a teenager, Aaron starred at tight end for the Bristol Central High School Rams football team, where he led the state in touchdown receptions during his senior years. After high school, Hernandez attended the University of Florida, where the New England Patriots drafted him in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL draft.
Aaron was a 6’2″ foot tall football player with 245 pounds weight and a strong blocker; moreover, he was a wide receiver.
Despite proving himself the best player, NFL was hesitant to choose him because he was previously found to be using drugs. In contrast, many NFL teams were concerned about his relationship with gangs. But the New England Patriots drafted him in 2010 with an overall pick of 113th.
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: BECOMING A PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER
Aaron Hernandez enjoyed a prosperous professional career in the NFL and was the youngest player. He achieved a lot of personal accolades along the way and was a vital member of the New England Patriots for three seasons. He successfully took his team to the AFC championship with his astounding performance. Furthermore, he made a record of 45 receptions for his team’s tight ends. Signed Hernandez for a five years contract in 2012
His short NFL career stats are given below.
| Sr. no | NFL statistics | |
| 1 | Receptions | 175 |
| 2 | Receiving yards | 1,956 |
| 3 | Receiving average | 11.2 |
| 4 | touchdowns | 18 |
TRIAL AND SUICIDE
The case of Odin Lloyd’s murder started in January 2015, and within two months, the decision came out, which convicted Aaron of his murder. After being sentenced to life in prison, Aaron was found dead in his prison cell on April 19, 2017.
Apart from Odin’s murder, there were four more cases again him, which included Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, Jordan Miller and Corey Smith, and Justin Glass.
CONCLUSION
It is evident that Aaron Hernandez’s life was filled with turmoil, and he could not overcome his demons. His death is a tragic example of the dangers of mental illness and how it can lead to self-destruction. We must learn from Hernandez’s story and work to provide support for those who are struggling with mental health issues.
Thank you for reading!