“I Had No Idea”: Aaron Hernandez Emotional Episode on the New England Patriots Dynasty Turns Heartbreaking for NFL Fans

The new Apple TV+ docuseries The Dynasty has NFL fans engrossed, focusing mainly on the tragic story of Aaron Hernandez. While the 10-episode series shows the New England Patriots “dynasty” under Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, it also dives deep into Hernandez’s troubled time with the team. What went wrong with the deceased tight end?

Episode 6 gave an emotional gut punch to fans, uncovering the “untold truth” behind Hernandez’s downfall. From bar fights to a double homicide, the episode explores the devastating impact on both Hernandez and the Patriots franchise. The docuseries filmmaker Matthew Hamachek recently appeared on The Rich Eisen Show to discuss it. He revealed how hard it was to unearth the dark part of the Patriots’ dynasty.

A heart-wrenching episode in the docuseries

The gripping episode 6 of The Dynasty: New England Patriots explored the tragedy and controversy around the life and death of Aaron Hernandez. Sportscaster Suzy Shuster recounts the episode’s profound impact: “When we talk about the bad, we talk about the Aaron Hernandez hour. It was riveting, to say the least, and at the end of it, my 13-year-old Cooper looked at me and said — Wow Mom, I had no idea!”

Director Matthew added, “Within the Patriots archive itself was, you know, 35,000 hours of never-before-seen footage.” With such massive troves of unseen video under their radar, the team made a whole episode about Aaron Hernandez. But the filmmakers struck gold, as it turned out to be one of the series’ most interesting and emotional parts. It covered Hernandez’s troubled tenure with the Patriots through interviews with his former teammates.

Aaron Hernandez: The dark side of the Patriots’ dynasty

At just 17, while playing for the Florida Gators, Aaron Hernandez’s off-field issues began. The freshman tight end got into a bar fight in Gainesville, punching the manager. However, he wasn’t charged. Later that same year, he became a suspect in a double shooting, but inconsistencies in witness statements kept him away from the trouble. Despite these red flags, the Patriots drafted him in 2010.

Read More: Emotional Deion Branch Remembers Aaron Hernandez as a Friend, Close to 7 Years After the Controversial TE’s Death

Hernandez’s troubles continued even after joining the Patriots. He faced legal issues involving gun possession, shooting, and drugs. Then, in June 2013, after his third season and a hefty contract with the Patriots, he was arrested for the murder of Odin Lloyd. Found guilty in 2015, Hernandez died by suicide in prison just days after being acquitted in a separate double-murder case. Meanwhile, researchers also added another layer to it. They revealed Hernandez suffered from a severe case of CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy), a condition possibly linked to his behavior. Aaron Hernandez’s journey thus casts a long shadow on both the NFL and the Patriots, forever marking this as a dark chapter in their histories.

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