Heroes aren’t born, they’re made. But the story of , an unnaturally talented professional football player whose championship-winning legacy was tainted by two separate murder cases – one a double homicide – proves that . At least, that’s what the latest installment of true crime anthology, , argues.
The 10-episode FX series chronicles Hernandez’s rise to infamy, from high school standout to collegiate superstar to starting tight end for the New England Patriots during the height of the Tom Brady / Bill Belichick era. For every win on the field, there’s a stumbling block off: early concussions that contributed to a neurodegenerative disease the real Hernandez was , an abusive father, a culture of homophobia that forced him to remain closeted, drug use, toxic family ties, and a system that failed to hold athletes accountable at both the university and professional level. Tackling just one element of the tragedy that was Aaron Hernandez, who died by suicide at just 27 years-old, is a test of an actor’s ability, but Josh Rivera is tasked with covering such an expansive part of Hernandez’s descent.
In conversation, Rivera has an easy charm about him. He’s contemplative and thoughtful when speaking about Hernandez’s troubles, and the victims who suffered because of his poor decisions. But he’s just as quick to joke about his own experience on the gridiron – he played high school ball before changing course to theater – and his surprisingly normal private.