Episode ten of season one of American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, titled "Who Killed Aaron Hernandez?", serves as the definitive conclusion to the dramatized chronicle of the former NFL star's life. The finale covers the 2017 double-homicide acquittal, Hernandez's death by suicide in prison, the subsequent discovery of severe Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and the legal complexities surrounding his legacy.
The Narrative Structure of the Season One Finale
The tenth episode of American Sports Story functions less as a traditional television resolution and more as a somber post-mortem of a tragedy that was years in the making. By the time viewers reach this final chapter, the narrative has already established Hernandez’s rise as a New England Patriot and his fall following the murder of Odin Lloyd. Episode ten focuses on the narrow window between his second major trial and his death on April 19, 2017.
The episode is structured to contrast the high-stakes environment of the courtroom with the claustrophobic reality of the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center. As the series reaches its peak, the focus shifts from the external violence of Hernandez’s past to the internal disintegration of his mental state. This transition is vital for understanding the show's primary thesis: that Hernandez was a victim of his own biology and environment just as much as he was a perpetrator of heinous acts.
The 2012 Double Homicide Trial and Acquittal
A significant portion of episode ten is dedicated to the legal battle surrounding the 2012 drive-by shooting of Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado. Represented by high-profile attorney Jose Baez, Hernandez is depicted in a state of precarious hope. The show highlights the tactical brilliance of the defense, which successfully cast doubt on the testimony of the prosecution’s star witness, Alexander Bradley.
Legal Strategy and Performance
The dramatization emphasizes how Baez focused on the lack of physical evidence linking Hernandez to the trigger, despite the undeniable presence of the silver Toyota 4Runner. For the audience, this segment serves to illustrate the "invincibility" Hernandez felt when he was acquitted of these charges in April 2017. However, the show juxtaposes this legal victory with the reality that he was already serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for the Odin Lloyd conviction. This creates a bittersweet, hollow atmosphere that defines the episode's first half.
Life Inside Souza-Baranowski: The Final Days
Following the acquittal, the narrative moves into the isolation of the maximum-security prison. Episode ten provides a visceral look at Hernandez's daily existence, moving away from the glamour of the NFL to the mundane and brutal reality of incarceration.
The production design in these scenes is intentionally stark. The lighting is cold, and the sound design emphasizes the mechanical clanging of cell doors, highlighting Hernandez’s total loss of autonomy. The episode portrays his interactions with fellow inmates and his family—specifically his fiancée Shayanna Jenkins—with a sense of impending finality. The writers use these moments to hint at his deteriorating neurological health, showing lapses in memory, sudden shifts in mood, and a growing sense of paranoia that historians and biographers have noted were present in his final weeks.
The Act of Suicide and the "Abatement Ab Initio" Doctrine
The climax of the episode covers the events of the early morning of April 19, 2017. The show depicts the discovery of Hernandez’s body in cell 57. The inclusion of specific historical details—such as the reference to John 3:16 written on his forehead and the use of cardboard to jam the cell door—grounds the dramatization in the factual record provided by the Massachusetts Department of Correction.
The Legal Aftermath
One of the more complex "technical" aspects of episode ten is the exploration of the Abatement Ab Initio doctrine. At the time of his death, Hernandez’s conviction for the murder of Odin Lloyd was still under appeal. Under Massachusetts law at that time, if a defendant died before their legal appeals were exhausted, the conviction was vacated, effectively resetting their record to "innocent" in the eyes of the law.
The episode explores the emotional turmoil this caused for the family of Odin Lloyd. While the New England Patriots and the legal system eventually saw this doctrine challenged and overturned in this specific context in 2019, the episode captures the immediate confusion and pain the ruling caused in 2017.
The CTE Revelation: A Scientific Turning Point
The final third of episode ten shifts its lens toward the scientific investigation led by Dr. Ann McKee at Boston University. After Hernandez’s death, his brain was released to the BU CTE Center, where researchers made a startling discovery: Hernandez, at age 27, suffered from Stage 3 Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
Understanding Stage 3 CTE
The episode explains the significance of this diagnosis with medical precision. Stage 3 CTE is typically found in players in their 50s or 60s. For a 27-year-old to have brain atrophy and large deposits of tau protein in the frontal lobe—the area responsible for impulse control, judgment, and emotional regulation—was unprecedented.
The show uses this revelation not to excuse Hernandez’s actions, but to provide a layer of biological context. By visualizing the "brown spots" and brain shrinkage, American Sports Story forces the audience to grapple with the role that football-related brain trauma played in Hernandez's violent outbursts and eventual decline.
| Aspect | Dramatization in Episode 10 | Historical/Technical Fact |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Representation | Focused on the charisma of Jose Baez during the 2012 trial. | Baez's defense was credited with the acquittal due to witness impeachment. |
| Prison Conditions | Portrayed as highly isolating and psychologically taxing. | Souza-Baranowski is a Level 6 maximum-security facility in Shirley, MA. |
| Cause of Death | Depicted as suicide via hanging using a bedsheet. | Confirmed by the State Medical Examiner as asphyxiation by hanging. |
| CTE Stage | Explicitly identified as Stage 3. | Confirmed by Dr. Ann McKee; the most severe case ever seen in someone his age. |
| Patriots Connection | Brief mentions of Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft. | The team largely distanced itself after his 2013 arrest. |
Themes of Identity and Secrecy
Throughout the series, and culminating in episode ten, there is a strong focus on Hernandez’s struggle with his sexuality. The finale suggests that the pressure of maintaining a "macho" NFL persona while suppressed personal truths contributed to his mental fracture.
The episode portrays the conflict between his public life as a father and athlete and his private life, which included alleged relationships with men. By centering this in the finale, the creators argue that Hernandez lived in a state of constant performance, and that the collapse of that performance was as much a factor in his death as his legal troubles.
Production and Critical Reception as of 2026
Looking back at the series from the perspective of 2026, the finale is often cited as the most controversial yet technically accomplished episode of the Ryan Murphy anthology. Critics have praised Josh Rivera’s performance in episode ten for capturing the nuances of a man who was both a victimizer and a victim of his own circumstances.
The episode’s ability to balance courtroom drama, prison tragedy, and medical documentary-style exposition set a high bar for subsequent seasons of American Sports Story. It remains a foundational text for those studying the intersection of professional sports, criminal justice, and neurological health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the title of American Sports Story Episode 10?
The title of the season finale is "Who Killed Aaron Hernandez?" This title is metaphorical, suggesting that while Hernandez took his own life, a combination of the NFL's culture, brain trauma (CTE), and his upbringing all played a role in his demise.
Does the finale show the murder of Odin Lloyd?
The murder of Odin Lloyd is primarily covered in earlier episodes. Episode ten focuses on the aftermath, the secondary trial for the 2012 murders, and the final days of Hernandez’s life in 2017.
How accurate is the portrayal of CTE in the episode?
The portrayal is highly accurate, based on the real-world findings of the Boston University CTE Center. The show features dialogue and visual aids that mirror the actual press conferences and scientific reports released by Dr. Ann McKee in late 2017.
Is the New England Patriots' involvement shown in the finale?
The Patriots are mentioned primarily in the context of the legal battles over Hernandez’s estate and the "Abatement Ab Initio" doctrine. The team’s management does not play a central role in the finale's plot, as the focus remains on the prison and the courtroom.
Does the episode address Hernandez’s daughter?
Yes, the episode features emotional scenes involving Shayanna Jenkins and their daughter, Avielle. These scenes serve to humanize the tragedy and highlight the collateral damage caused by Hernandez’s actions and eventual death.
Why did the show end with the CTE diagnosis?
Ending with the CTE diagnosis provides a scientific "why" to the "what" that viewers had witnessed. It shifts the narrative from a simple crime story to a broader commentary on the physical risks of American football and the failure of support systems for athletes.
Practical Recommendations for Viewers
If you are watching American Sports Story for the first time or revisiting it in 2026, it is recommended to watch the finale in conjunction with the 2020 documentary Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez. While the FX series is a dramatization, comparing the two provides a clearer picture of where the show took creative liberties for narrative impact.
Furthermore, for those interested in the technical aspects of the case, reviewing the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court rulings on the "Abatement Ab Initio" doctrine will provide deeper insight into why Hernandez’s legal status remained a point of contention years after the credits rolled on episode ten.
