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- A six-part podcast series examines the before and after from the career of ex-NFL and New England Patriots star Aaron Hernandez
- Created by Wonderly and the Boston Globe it delves deep into Hernandez’s youth, career and potential chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) damage to explain what went wrong
- Hernandez was convicted of first-degree murder of Odin Lloyd in 2015
Wonderly and the Boston Globe’s Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc podcast is an impactful, if often, grim listen.
It’s the second time I’ve listened to it in the last year alone. The creators manage to not only focus on the Hernandez case in all its tragic details but also the wider issue of what role the game of American football played, specifically chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
The story itself is well known – Aaron Hernandez, the superstar New England Patriots NFL Tight-End is convicted of first-degree murder in 2015. To put the story into context – Hernandez signed a five-year contract extension with the Patriots worth $40 million in 2012.
Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc tells a desperately sad story.
Gladiator Podcast
- It was created in conjunction with Wonderly and the Boston Globe
- The Globe is the most respected print and online publication in the New England area
- Across six episodes a multitude of characters are interviewed and previously unheard prison conversations featuring Aaron Hernandez are aired
Hernandez seemingly had it all, but the reality was much different.
Some of the most interesting parts of Gladiator I found to be interviews with ex-NFL players, including Brandon Lloyd and Dane Fletcher. Given the subject, the Patriots were not likely to want to contribute, but both players give an insight into the locker room at the time, and the troubling behaviour exhibited by Hernandez.
A key question asked throughout Gladiator comes from host Bob Hohler regarding Hernandez, why didn’t someone, anyone step in?
The podcast paints a world where Hernandez’s incredible athletic prowess meant his disturbing and unacceptable behaviour was not challenged or shut down. This pattern really begins during his days at the University of Florida Gators and continues on from there.
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Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc does contain a mini-shocker (in my opinion) towards the end of the series regarding Hernandez’s position with the New England Patriots, and also a conversation with him and coach Bill Belichick and his future.
Considering this wasn’t something previously know – especially in the intense sports city that Boston is, is a surprise. It puts the whole thing into perspective really – it appears everyone towards the end knew things were going wrong.
Rating:
Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc is a riveting listen, well-spaced across the six episodes and clocking in at roughly 40 minutes apiece. It never feels like there’s much, if any, filler to the series and you do feel like you get a few genuine pieces of information you were aware of in the case. Even for non-NFL, or sports fans, the themes it touches upon are universal. Give it your time.
You can listen to Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc here.
The Boston Globe also published online pieces to coincide with the podcast series. You can read them here.
