:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x164:751x166)/American-Sports-Story-Aaron-Hernandez-091124-tout-6338fb2ff7334982b40d0b593493b9cd.jpg "The Cast of Aaron Hernandez Compared to the Real People They Play")
American Sports History: Aaron Hernandez follows former NFL superstar Aaron Hernandez during his college and professional career and also sheds light on his dark private life.
After a successful college football career at the University of Florida, Hernandez was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2010, played in the Super Bowl and eventually signed a $40 million contract with the team before being arrested. The star tight end was eventually convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison, but only served five years before dying by suicide on April 17, 2017.
Netflix already produced a documentary in 2020, Killer Inside: The Ghost of Aaron Hernandezwhich tells the story from the perspective of the people around the star player. American sports history is the first live-action film adaptation of Hernandez’s story, starring Josh Andrés Rivera as the deceased athlete.
American Sports History: Aaron Hernandez will premiere on September 17 at 10 p.m. ET on FX and will be available to stream on Hulu the following day.
Here is a look at the cast of American Sports History: Aaron Hernandez alongside the real people they represent.
Josh Andres Rivera as Aaron Hernandez
Michael DeHoog/Sports Imagery/Getty
Josh Andrés Rivera plays Aaron Hernandez in the FX limited series. He previously played Sejanus Plinth in “The Last Man” (2023). The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
The actor has been preparing mentally and physically for the role of Hernandez, improving his physique and studying the mentality of the former NFL star turned convicted murderer.
“It’s a story with a lot of factors, as I’m sure anyone familiar with it knows. There’s the mental health factor, the crime factor, the money, the fame, all of those things,” Rivera told Deadline in November 2023. “As an actor, it’s kind of a dream to have something so, so exciting to immerse yourself in.”
Rivera is currently dating actress Rachel Zegler, whom he met while co-starring in West Side Story.
Patrick Schwarzenegger as Tim Tebow
FX Networks; John Bazemore/AP
Patrick Schwarzenegger plays Tim Tebow, Hernandez’s teammate at the University of Florida and former NFL quarterback.
Schwarzenegger is the son of legendary actor Arnold Schwarzenegger and is best known for his role as Golden Boy in GenV and alongside Colin Firth in the HBO miniseries The Stairs.
Patrick is a longtime football fan and knew Hernandez and Tebow when they were college athletes.
“(He) recognized that Aaron was struggling and tried to be a force for good and use his faith in his love for Jesus and going to church and the values that come with being a Christian to help Aaron. Unfortunately, (he) wasn’t able to fully accomplish that,” the actor told Entertainment Weekly about Tebow.
In December 2023, Schwarzenegger announced his engagement to his longtime girlfriend Abby Champion.
Tammy Blanchard as Terri Hernandez
FX Networks; The Boston Herald, Ted Fitzgerald, Pool/AP
Tammy Blanchard appears in the series as Hernandez’s mother Terri, who played a crucial role in his upbringing.
Blanchard won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role as young Judy Garland in The life of Judy. The actress is also known for her role as Florinda in the 2014 film Into the forest.
Norbert Leo Butz as Bill Belichick
FX Networks; Ronald Martinez/Getty
American actor and singer Norbert Leo Butz portrays NFL coach Bill Belichick.
Belichick coached Hernandez during his tenure with the New England Patriots and American sports history should address the inner relationship between coach and player.
Butz is best known for his work on stage and has won two Tony Awards.
Tony Yazbeck as Urban Meyer
FX Networks; Chris Graythen/Getty
Tony Yazback plays Urban Meyer, who coached Hernandez at the University of Florida.
Yazbeck, a Tony-nominated actor and director, appeared in Billions, Smash And The good fight.
Jaylen Barron as Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez
Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty
Jaylen Barron plays Shayanna Jenkins-Hernandez, Hernandez’s fiancée and mother of his daughter Avielle Janelle Hernandez.
Barron played Zoe in Netflix’s Free run and Dominique Winslow in Shameless.
Ean Castellanos as DJ Hernandez
Ted Fitzgerald/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty
Ean Castellanos plays Hernandez’s DJ Hernandez.
Previously he appeared in the television series Five days at the Memorial, Tommy And High maintenance costs and has also played roles on stage.
Lindsay Mendez as Tanya Singleton
FX Networks; The Boston Globe, George Rizer, Pool/AP
Lindsay Mendez plays Tanya Singleton, Hernandez’s cousin.
The actress is best known for her roles in television series, including Station 19, Modern Family And The Grotto.
