“American Sports Story’s Thomas Sadoski Hopes Show pisses off the NFL.”

Thomas Sadoski hopes the NFL has a visceral reaction to this American sports history.

“I think one of the really shocking standout moments of this show is the image of all these young men – mostly young men of color – standing in a line and getting poked and prodded,” Sadoski, 48, said TV Insider on Tuesday, October 1st. “This image is captivating and it should be.”

Sadoski researched the obstacles football players face before taking on the role Brian Murphy.

“I kind of knew everything about the combine and I knew I had read a lot about it. I had seen articles about a lot of these things, but seeing it up close and personal, even on a movie set, was jaw-dropping,” he noted. “And one reason I think it's worth doing (projects) like this is because it shakes the foundations of this established way of doing things that are really twisted.”

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FX's American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez worked hard to make the cast resemble their real-life counterparts. The first season of American Sports Story, starring Josh Andrés Rivera, premiered in September 2024 and is based on the “Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.” podcast, which focused on Hernandez's time as a tight end in college (…)

When asked how he thought the organization would respond to the show, Sadoski responded: “I want the NFL to be upset about this show because it's a multibillion-dollar industry that has been in the past for a very long time “It took him to take responsibility for the well-being of his athletes, who even today have a lot of lips but don't do much.”

He continued: “The machismo thing that has existed in the world of this sport for too long has really (allowed) this. I think it’s changing, but I don’t know if it’s necessarily changing fast enough.”

The first season of American sports historydebuted last season and is based on “Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.” podcast, which focuses on Aaron HernandezHis time as a tight end with the University of Florida Gators before his time with the New England Patriots. Josh Andres Rivera brings the complicated athlete to life as the show explores his struggles off the field.

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Bureau of Prisons/Getty Images; FX For fans of TV shows based on true events, there are some standout highlights in the fall lineup that come straight from the headlines. FX presents Ryan Murphy's newest limited series titled American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez. Based on “Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.” Podcast, (…)

After becoming an NFL star, Hernandez was arrested in 2013 for murder Odin Lloyd and was convicted two years later. He was convicted of first-degree murder in 2015 and subsequently charged with double murder Daniel de Abreu And Safiro Furtado. Hernandez was acquitted in 2017 and found dead in his prison cell days later at age 27. His death was ruled a suicide.

Sports fans can also look forward to seeing actors playing familiar faces, such as Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer And Bill Belichickall of which played a role in Hernandez's life. Sadoski reflected during his interview on the research he did for the role of Hernandez's agent TV Insider.

“That is the feeling I got from watching the trial and reading the articles. I feel like he's a good man at his core. I think the reality is that at a certain point you're faced with the fact that these are grown men you're dealing with and they're going to do what they're going to do.” he explained. “They can advise and inspire as much as they can, but at the end of the day full responsibility for their actions and decisions lies with them.”

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From Sadoski's perspective, there are several men in Hernandez's life who have “failed him in spectacular fashion” and “need to be held accountable.”

“Urban Meyer is someone who comes to mind. His coach at Florida should never lead young men again. It is shameful that he poses as a Sunday morning saint,” he added. “I actually have a lot of sympathy for Brian Murphy in the sense that I feel like he tried to do the best job he could, but at the end of the day you have to come to terms with the fact that they're going to make their decisions .”

American Sports History: Aaron Hernandez airs on FX Tuesdays at 10pm ET. New episodes stream the next day on Hulu.