American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez cast and character guide

American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez is a new FX series that premiered on September 17. The series explores the life of NFL star Aaron Hernandez, studying his rise and fall based on previous podcasts and miniseries. In 2013, he was charged with murdering Odin Lloyd. Aaron Hernandez then took his own life in 2017 while he was serving a life sentence.

The series is produced by Ryan Murphy, Nina Jacobson, Stuart Zicherman, Alexis Martin Woodall, Brad Simpson, Scott Robertson, Carl Franklin, Eric Kovtun, Linda Pizzuti Henry, Hernan Lopez, Ira Napoliello, and Marshall Lewy. Josh Rivera plays the role of Hernandez in his TV debut.

Fans can look forward to watching this complicated tale of fame and tragedy as the series unfolds. The following is a cast and character guide of American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez.

American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez cast and character guide

1) Josh Rivera as Aaron Hernandez

Josh Andrés Rivera in American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez (Image via FX)

Josh Andrés Rivera plays Aaron Hernandez in the new FX series.

Rivera is known for his roles in West Side Story and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. This series, American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, is Rivera's first time starring on a TV show despite having appeared in films like Cat Person and Vegas High.

2) Ean Castellanos as DJ Hernandez

Ean Castellanos in Tommy (Image via CBS)

DJ Hernandez plays a significant role in Aaron Hernandez’s story. He is the NFL star’s older brother. He had revealed how they grew up in an abusive environment. DJ wrote the 2018 book The Truth About Aaron: My Journey to Understand My Brother.

Ean Castellanos takes on the role of DJ Hernandez in American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez. He is known for shows like Five Days at Memorial, Tommy, Burn, and High Maintenance.

3) Jaylen Barron as Shayanna Jenkins

Jaylen Barron in Blindspotting (Image via Starz)

Jaylen Barron, known for her role in Shameless, plays the role of Shayanna Jenkins in American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez. Jenkins was Aaron Hernandez’s fiancée. The couple had a daughter, Avielle, in 2014.

The two met as kids in Connecticut and dated through high school before shifting to Massachusetts around 2010. Back then, Hernandez had signed a $40 million deal with the New England Patriots.

Jaylen Barron has also appeared in shows like Good Luck Charlie, and Blindspotting.

4) Lindsay Mendez as Tanya Singleton

Lindsay Mendez in All Rise (Image via OWN)

Lindsay Mendez is a talented performer from Broadway who is part of American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez as Tanya Singleton. Aaron Hernandez’s cousin, Tanya, was fighting stage 4 cancer when she was charged with conspiracy to cover up Hernandez's alleged crimes. However, because of her serious illness that only got worse, her case was dismissed.

Before this, Mendez had appeared in shows like All Rise and The Grotto. She had won a Tony Award for the hit musical Carousel.

5) Tammy Blanchard as Terri Hernandez

Tammy Blanchard in Warning Shot (Image via Prime Video, Future Proof Films)

Tammy Blanchard takes on the role of Terri Hernandez, Aaron Hernandez’s mother in American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez. The mother-son relationship is complicated and tense throughout the story.

Blanchard is another actor on this list known for her Broadway performances. She was in Gypsy and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. She also gained popularity for portraying a young Judy Garland in Life With Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows. She has appeared in films like The Invitation, Bella and Burning Blue.

6) Patrick Schwarzenegger as Tim Tebow

Patrick Schwarzenegger in The Staircase (Image via HBO Max)

Patrick Schwarzenegger plays the role of Tim Tebow. He is a legendary former quarterback who spent three seasons with the Denver Broncos of the NFL. Tebow and Aaron Hernandez were college teammates at the University of Florida, playing together around 2008.

In real life, Tebow and Hernandez were pretty close. They shared a brotherly bond. Aaron struggled with his personal life, but Tebow took a different path. He was known for his faith and Bible verses. The show will explore this bond and dramatize their relationship.

Patrick is the son of Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was in Amazon Prime Video’s Gen V and will appear in season three of The White Lotus.

7) Norbert Leo Butz as Bill Belichick

Norbert Leo Butz in Bloodline (Image via Netflix)

Norbert Leo Butz steps into the role of Bill Belichick in American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez. He used to be the head coach of the New England Patriots. Belichick was also an 8-time Super Bowl champion. After the Patriots drafted him in 2010, Aaron Hernandez was coached by Belichick for three seasons.

Belichick moved on from coaching the Patriots after 24 seasons and now contributes to The Pat McAfee Show and ESPN’s Monday Night Football’s ManningCast as an analyst.

Norbert Butz is known for his work on stage and screen. He has appeared in shows like Bloodline, Debris, and Justified: City Primeval.

8) Tony Yazbeck as Urban Meyer

Tony Yazbeck in American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez (Image via FX)

Tony Yazbeck plays the role of Urban Meyer in the series. At the University of Florida, Hernandez was recruited and coached by Meyer. He led the Florida Gators to National Championship titles in 2006 and 2008. Meyer also had a brief stint as the head coach of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 but was let go after a 2-11 record.

Yazbeck, a singer and a dancer, is mostly known for his work in theatre.