An American Sports Story executive producer breaks down the finale’s tragic end for Aaron Hernandez, exploring the impact of his CTE diagnosis and how it influenced his life and crimes. The FX series, planned to explore true stories of sports figures, dedicated its debut season to former NFL star Hernandez, who was convicted of murder before his death by suicide in prison. The show examined Hernandez’s journey from a promising athlete to a convicted felon, drawing attention to the darker aspects of football culture and the physical and psychological toll the game can take on its players.