MASSACHUSETTS — Aaron Hernandez, former New England Patriots tight end, died by suicide on April 19, 2017, at the age of 27. Hernandez was found hanging in his cell at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, where he was serving a life sentence for the 2013 murder of Odin Lloyd.
His death occurred just days after he was acquitted in a separate double-murder trial, drawing national attention and sparking discussions about mental health, criminal justice, and the pressures faced by professional athletes.
Subsequent posthumous examinations revealed that Hernandez suffered from severe chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head trauma during his football career. The findings added to growing awareness about the long-term neurological risks associated with contact sports.
Hernandez’s life and tragic death continue to serve as a cautionary tale at the intersection of sports, mental health, and the criminal justice system.