NFL Accountability in American Sports Story

In the third episode of American Sports Story, Aaron Hernandez, played by Josh Rivera, receives the John Mackey Award as a top tight end for the Florida Gators. At the ceremony, he meets John Mackey (played by Martin Fisher), a former NFL star suffering from dementia. Eight years later, Hernandez tragically takes his own life in prison after being convicted of murder, with an autopsy revealing severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) from repeated head injuries.

Created by Stuart Zicherman and based on the podcast Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc., this series, premiering September 17 on FX, explores Hernandez's troubled life, marked by abuse and internalized homophobia. While it humanizes him, it fails to fully critique the NFL for its role in his downfall.

The story follows Aaron and his brother, DJ (played by Ean Castellanos), under their abusive father, Dennis (played by Vincent Laresca). After Dennis's death, Aaron considers offers from various colleges, notably from charismatic coach Urban Meyer (played by Tony Yazbeck). Eager for approval, he becomes a target for manipulative coaches and faces a culture devoid of accountability.

As Hernandez struggles with his identity and substance use, Rivera captures both his charm and his darker moments. The series portrays figures like Meyer, Robert Kraft (played by Jerry Levine), and Bill Belichick (played by Norbert Leo Butz) without sympathy, illustrating the NFL as an institution focused on profit.

Sports Story touches on the football-industrial complex but could explore it deeper. A powerful scene during the NFL Scouting Combine highlights racial dynamics in the league. However, the show downplays the NFL's history with CTE, providing only superficial insights.

Overall, while it presents a compelling narrative of a tragic life, American Sports Story lacks a strong critique of the NFL, portraying a broken man and the failures surrounding him. Grade: B.