This article mentions sexual abuse and contains spoilers forAmerican Sports Storyepisode 4.
American Sports Storyepisode 4 “Birthday Money” changes several key aspects of Aaron Hernandez’s true story. Josh Rivera leads theAmerican Sports StorycastasAaron Hernandez, the former collegiate and NFL superstar tight endwho was convicted ofmurdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloydin 2015. Thefirst two episodes ofAmerican Sports Storycapture a basic understanding of Aaron Hernandez’s complicated upbringing, tumultuous family life, and accelerated path to becoming a Florida Gator before joining the NFL’s New England Patriots in 2010.American Sports Storyportrays several NFL players and coachesincluding Hernandez.
American Sports Storyepisode 3chronicles Hernandez’s celebrity status at the University of Florida before he ultimately declared for the 2010 NFL Draft. Episode 4 chronicles more of the details of Hernandez’s transition from being the 2010John Mackey Award winnerto having his draft stock plummet ahead of the NFL Draft due to off-the-field concerns. Even though Hernandez was talented enough to become a first-round draft pick, he was ultimately selected in the fourth round by the New England Patriots, who had one of the most tried and tested disciplinary structures in the entire NFL.Episode 4 also introduces Hernandez’s longtime agent, Brian Murphy.
New episodes ofAmerican Sports Storyare available every Wednesday on Hulu.
Aaron Hernandez’s Uncle Robert Valentine Was Never Linked To His Sexual Abuse
American Sports Storyepisode 4 begins with a startling scene that suggests that Hernandez was molested or sexually abused as a young child. While this claim has been upheld byAaron’s brother D.J. Hernandezas well as one of his attorneys, there isno record that Aaron Hernandez’s uncle Robert Valentine was ever linked to his sexual abuse. According toESPN, “Jonathan Hernandez told [The Boston] Globe that Aaron Hernandez disclosed later in his adult life that he had been molested as a young boy. One of Aaron’s lawyers in his criminal case also said Aaron spoke to him of sexual abuse as a child. Neither was willing to identify the perpetrator to the Globe.”
American Sports Story: What Bill Belichick Has Said About Aaron Hernandez
Bill Belichick will be portrayed in American Sports Story as Aaron Hernadnez’s coach on the Patriots. Here’s what he said about him in real life.
Additionally, Aaron’s uncle Robert Valentine, who was the biological brother of Aaron’s mother Terri Hernandez, had a clean criminal record. This indicates thathe wasn’t arrested and did not serve jail time for exposing himself on a school busasAmerican Sports Storyclaims. Valentine was one of two of Hernandez’s relatives who died in two separate motor vehicle crashes during the summer of 2013 (viaESPN). Valentine was killed on July 07, 2025, in a moped crash. While D.J. Hernandez has confirmed that his brother was sexually molested as a child, which sparked a heated confrontation inAmerican Sports Storyepisode 4, Aaron’s abuser has never been disclosed to the public.
Aaron Hernandez Sent A Letter To The Patriots Before The 2010 NFL Draft Offering Extra Drug Tests
Hernandez said the Patriots have “nothing to worry about” regarding his drug use
One of the biggest true story omissions inAmerican Sports Storyepisode 4 is the fact that Aaron Hernandez wrote a letter to the New England Patriots confirming thathe would allow himself to be subject to additional drug tests if drafted by the team. While this point was stressed by the fictional version of Hernandez in the FX series during various NFL team interviews, it was not conveyed in its true written form between Hernandez and the Patriots. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, portrayed by Norbert Leo Butz, and owner Robert Kraft, portrayed by Jerry Levine, also make no mention of Aaron’s letter when choosing to draft him for the series.
American Sports Story: What Tom Brady Has Said About Aaron Hernandez
7-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady played with the subject of American Sports Story Aaron Hernandez between 2010-2012 on the New England Patriots.
Hernandez addressed the letter to the Patriots' director of player personnel Nick Caserioin April 2010. The final paragraph of Hernandez’s letter reads, “I ask you to trust me when I say you have absolutely nothing to worry about when it comes to me and the use of recreational drugs. I have set very high goals for myself in the NFL, and am focused 100% on achieving those goals. So, test me all you want during my rookie year … all of the results will be negative while I am having an overwhelmingly positive impact on the field” (viaNFL.com).
There’s No Record Of Aaron Hernandez Having An Affair With An Athlete’s First Staff Member
Hernandez’s back injury did prevent him from participating in the NFL Combine
American Sports Storyseems to invent the character Chris, a trainer and physical therapist working at Brian Murphy’s Athletes First training facility in Laguna Hill, California. While Murphy and Athlete’s First are very real, with the renowned firmrepresenting dozens of elite athletes such as Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott,the fictional character Chris was created entirely for the show to advance the narrative of Aaron’s closeted gayness. Several other relevant details inAmerican Sports Storyepisode 4 are factual, such as Hernandez’s muscle strain which kept him from participating in the 2010 NFL Combine, but the affair with his Athletes First staff member is not.
American Sports Story Aaron Hernandez Soundtrack Guide: Every Song And When They Play
FX’s new series American Sports Story features a robust and relevant soundtrack full of 2000s hip-hop classics and collegiate fight songs.
American Sports Story
Cast
American Sports Story is a TV show from Stu Zicherman and executive produced by Ryan Murphy. The series stars Josh Andrés Rivera as Aaron Hernandez and Patrick Schwarzenegger as Tim Tebow. The sports anthology series serves as the fourth installment in Murphy’s “American Story” franchise.
