Hernandez’s story remains one of the most infamous in NFL history. His fall from grace sparked countless discussions about the off-field issues that derailed a career once full of promise. During his prime with the New England Patriots, he was regarded as one of the league’s most dynamic offensive weapons, until legal troubles ended his time in the sport and ultimately his life.

Despite the disturbing nature of his story, many within the league acknowledged Hernandez’s potential on the field. One of them is Suggs, who recently reflected on Hernandez’s career and legacy during an appearance on the Rory & Mal Show.

“He was a problem. This guy would route you up. Aaron Hernandez was a hell of a football player,” Suggs said. “Too bad that was his second job, his first job was to be a gangster.” Suggs added that Hernandez could have had an incredible NFL career but became even more notorious off the field.

Suggs reflects on his feud with Hernandez

At one point, Hernandez was viewed as a rising star with the potential to become one of the NFL’s elite. But as time went on, his off-field issues overshadowed his talent, and the league ultimately turned its back on him. While some former players, such as Cam Newton, offered more nuanced views of Hernandez, his reputation remained largely defined by controversy.

Former Chiefs player didn’t hold back when discussing Hernandez, especially regarding their on-field encounters. He acknowledged Hernandez’s ability but pointed to moments when tensions boiled over. “It wasn’t just the incident he got caught and got in trouble for… On the field, like a couple times in a Ravens-Patriots game, Hernandez got real chippy and I was like, ‘I’ll beat the f*** out of you,’” Suggs recalled.

Hernandez’s troubled life off the field

Hernandez spent three seasons with the New England Patriots before a series of legal troubles led to his arrest in 2013 and his eventual decease. Despite he was having a great future in the NFL, this situations got him into so much trouble.

In June 2013, Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional football player who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancée, was found murdered. Hernandez was later arrested and charged in connection with multiple crimes.

Hernandez’s off-field issues ultimately led to a tragic downfall, but Newton was stunned by the turn of events. Speaking on The Coach JB Show, Newton admitted he struggled to reconcile the person he knew in college with the one who later made national headlines.

“I knew the 16, 17, 18, and 19-year-old Aaron Hernandez,” Newton said. “On my soul, on my firstborn, there was only one person from my University of Florida roster that ever checked up and checked in on me, it was him.“

Newton described Hernandez as a charismatic and lighthearted presence during their time as teammates. “He was the biggest jokester, one of the most fun-loving people I’ve ever been around,” he added. “That tells you a lot about the kind of relationship we had and how much we cared for each other.”

Despite everything that happened, Newton’s words painted a picture of a complex and deeply personal connection, one that left a lasting impression long after their time together on the field.

Newton reflects on Aaron Hernandez

Before tragedy unfolded, those who knew Aaron Hernandez saw a different side of him. That was the case for Newton, whose remarks about the former NFL tight end painted a picture far removed from the one the public remembers. “Hernandez showed me something very different,” Newton said.

“He loved hard. He was a guy who kept to himself. He went through things we now recognize as trauma, like losing his father. He was extremely close to his brother, his aunt, and the entire 2007 recruiting class. We were all together, alongside the Pouncey twins and Joe Haden,” Newton recalled.

Newton also emphasized Hernandez’s impact, both on the field and in the lives of those around him. “People don’t remember what you did for them as much as they remember how you made them feel. I know how Aaron Hernandez made me feel, as a friend, a teammate, and a person,” Newton added.

Aaron Hernandez’s NFL career stats

Hernandez had a promising but short-lived NFL career, spending three seasons with the New England Patriots before his legal troubles led to his downfall. Here’s a look at his career numbers:

• Games Played: 38
• Games Started: 29
• Receptions: 175
• Receiving Yards: 1,956
• Receiving Touchdowns: 18
• Yards per Reception: 11.2
• Rushing Attempts: 9
• Rushing Yards: 97
• Rushing Touchdowns: 0

Needless to say, Hernandez’s former teammates have constantly declined to talk about such a delicate subject. Now, Rob Gronkowski has finawlly broken the silence on his situation during an interview withKyle Brandt.

Gronkowski gave a brief response on the subject andadmitted that he never thought of Hernandez the way the media portrayed him and that he was definitely shakento hear the news about him.

Rob Gronkowski Says He Was Shocked To Hear The News About Aaron Hernandez

“Aaron was a great player. He was a great football player. But, I mean, I get questions like that all the time about him and everything. And with everything going on, I was definitely shook when I heard that, when I heard everything about it. Because being his teammate and everything and you just, you really don’t see that. You’re not really looking into players like ‘that’s who they are’ or ‘that’s what they’re doing.’ But just overall I just try to keep it simple and light. He was a great football player but that does not mean anything. You learn from other people, too,” Gronk said.

For years, Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski were a deadly duo for Bill Belichick’sdouble-tight end offense. They both entered the league in 2010 as draft picks by the New England Patriots.

Hernandez was forced to retire for obvious reasons following his third season in the league, while Gronkowski went on to become arguably the greatest tight end of all time and won 4 Super Bowls (3 with the Patriots).