Rookie, Extension & Total Earnings

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for American Sports Story.

The new FX series American Sports Story depicts Aaron Hernandez’s rise and fall as a superstar NFL tight end and convicted murderer. Josh Rivera leads the American Sports Story cast as Aaron Hernandez, the former collegiate and NFL superstar tight end who was convicted of murdering semi-pro football player Odin Lloyd in 2015. The first two episodes of American Sports Story capture a basic understanding of Aaron Hernandez’s complicated upbringing, tumultuous family life, and accelerated path to becoming a Florida Gator before joining the NFL’s New England Patriots in 2010. American Sports Story episode 3 chronicles Hernandez’s celebrity status and religious influences at the University of Florida.

American Sports Story episode 4 “Birthday Money” depicts more of the details of Hernandez’s transition from being the 2010 John Mackey Award winner to having his draft stock plummet ahead of the NFL Draft due to off-the-field concerns. Even though Hernandez was talented enough to become a first-round draft pick, he was ultimately selected in the fourth round by the New England Patriots, who had one of the most tried and tested disciplinary structures in the entire NFL. The Patriots initially signed Hernandez to a 4-year rookie deal in 2010 before giving him a 5-year, $40 million extension in August 2012.

How Much Aaron Hernandez’s Rookie Contract Was Worth

Hernandez signed a 4-year, $2.378 million rookie contract

Aaron Hernandez received a rookie contract from the New England Patriots after he was drafted as the 113th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Hernandez’s contract was valued at $2.378 million, which would be paid over the first four years of his NFL career. Hernandez was guaranteed $200,000 as a signing bonus and would receive an average annual salary of $594,500 (via Spotrac). Hernandez was issued $200,000 immediately after signing the rookie contract and would receive an annual salary of just under $600,000 for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. The contract would have expired after the 2013-2014 season but Hernandez got a big extension in 2012.

Hernandez’s rookie contract was valued based on his fourth-round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft. His teammate and fellow tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was selected by the Patriots as the 42nd overall pick in the second round, received a more sizable rookie deal. Gronkowski signed a 4-year contract worth $4,440,000 which included a $1,760,000 signing bonus. $2,530,000 of the contract was guaranteed and Gronkowski would receive an average annual salary of $1,110,000 (via Spotrac). Jermaine Gresham, who was the only tight end selected in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft with the 21st overall pick, signed a 5-year, $14,095,000 contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Aaron Hernandez Signed A 5-Year, $39.6 Million Extension In 2012

His elite performance in Super Bowl XLVI led to his big extension

Hernandez received a pretty standard contract as a rookie but quickly demonstrated his elite value to the Patriots after his performance in the 2011-2012 NFL season. He finished the regular season placing third in receiving yards after Wes Welker and Rob Gronkowski, with career-high totals of 79 receptions, 910 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns. Hernandez even outperformed Rob Gronkoskwi and all Patriots wide receivers in Super Bowl XLVI, leading the team in receiving yards (67) and scoring one of the Patriots’ two touchdowns in their 21-27 loss. Hernandez signed a big 5-year, $40 million extension on his rookie deal after his stellar performance in Super Bowl XLVI.

Hernandez’s 5-year, $39.6 million extension would have kept him on the New England Patriots through the 2018-19 season and would have made him a three-time Super Bowl Champion. Gronkowski also received a similar 6-year, $54 million extension in 2012. Hernandez’s deal would have issued him an annual salary of $5.65 million and a total signing bonus of $12.5 million. Hernandez was given a salary of $3.29 million for the 2012-13 season and received $9.25 million of the $12.5 million signing bonus. $15.95 million of the $39.6 million was guaranteed.

Aaron Hernandez Earned $11.2 Million In His NFL Career

He was only paid for the seasons he actually played

Hernandez only ended up earning a total of $11.2 million in his NFL career combining the two years of his rookie contract and the first year of his five-year extension. He was waived by the Patriots in 2013 following the news of his arrest on charges of first-degree murder and the extension was effectively voided. According to NFL.com, “The New England Patriots have voided all of Aaron Hernandez’s contract guarantees, according to a source informed of the Patriots’ decision-making and an NFL Players Association source, meaning the former tight end will have to fight to receive even the portion of his signing bonus that he’s already earned.”

While there was some brief consideration of keeping Hernandez on the Patriots’ active roster as his 2013 murder trial played out, the Patriots swiftly released him from the team just 90 minutes after his arrest. “Hernandez was to receive $2.5 million in guaranteed base salaries over the next two seasons, and his contract does not have language to void that money if he fails to practice. However, the Patriots believe the Collective Bargaining Agreement covers them because he has engaged in conduct unbecoming after being arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the death of Odin Lloyd” (via NFL.com).

The Patriots Settled A Grievance From Aaron Hernandez’s Contract In 2020

The NFLPA filed grievances against the Patriots in 2013

The Patriots received salary cap hits of $2.55 million in 2013 and $7.5 million in 2014 for waiving Hernandez but virtually had no other choice. The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) filed two grievances against the Patriots on behalf of Hernandez in 2013. “The grievances are for Hernandez’s 2013 base salary ($1.323 million) and his 2014 salary ($1.137 million) and workout bonus ($500,000), which had guarantee language attached to them in his original contract, and for the final installment of his signing bonus ($3.25 million)” (via ESPN). The Patriots were not required to pay Hernandez’s family but had to settle with the players’ union NFLPA.

According to ESPN, “In addition to that $4 million credit on the Patriots’ cap, the club received a $2.55 million credit after settling a long-running compensation grievance with the late Hernandez.” Hernandez’s murder conviction was briefly vacated following in death by suicide in 2017, which opened the door for both Hernandez’s family and Odin Lloyd’s family to seek compensation. Once Hernandez’s murder conviction was reinstated in 2019, those doors were promptly shut. The Patriots were finally able to settle their grievances in 2020, a scene which could be portrayed in American Sports Story.

Source: Spotrac, NFL.com, ESPN