American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez Not only focus on his titular character, but the surrounding athletes whose career overlaps with his – and one of the footballers is portrayed by an actor who finally gets to live an unrealized goal. As one of the real NFL players to appear in American Sports StoryThe character in question became one of the best of all time in his position. The man playing him in the American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez The cast will be grateful for snagging the role for more reasons than one.
Making it in the NFL is not a guarantee, even for the lucky group of players who manage to make the jump from the collegiate level. Aaron Hernandez’s football career is certainly on the right trajectory in terms of his performance on the field, but his crimes made it impossible for him to continue playing. That said, the player’s incarceration did not leave the New England Patriots short of a star tight end. The NFL’s next-man-up philosophy allowed Hernandez’s former teammate to step even more firmly into the limelightAnd the actor plays him American Sports Story is enjoying a similar phenomenon.
Rob Gronkowski actor Laith Wallschleger almost played in the NFL
Walschleger trained with the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent
The Patriots had a stellar draft year in 2010 when they took two elite tight ends. Although Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski was chosen ahead of Hernandez, both players became a vital part of Bill Belichick’s Tom Brady-led offense. in American Sports StoryGronk is played by former athlete Leith Walschleger. After spending a preseason as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 2015, Wallschleger never made the team’s 53-man roster and was cut ahead of the regular season. That was the end of his NFL journey.
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Wallschleger played his college football for the Fightin’ Blue Hens of the University of Delaware before graduating in 2014. Although his attempts to make the NFL didn’t quite pan out, graduating with a minor in theater (via Sportskeeda) certainly set him up for his acting career. Wallschlegers casting as Grank in American Sports Story Allows the defensive end turned actor to step into the shoes of an NFL athlete. It may not be quite the same as actually playing in the NFL, but it is an impressive way of simulating the experience that also links to his clear backup plan to go into the performing arts.
Hernandez and Wallschleger both played at Florida
Although he never made an NFL roster, Wallschleger played one season of pro football for the Jacksonville Sharks of the now-defunct Arena Football League. The team was based in Florida, which is where Hernandez spent three years playing as a Gator In the state’s eponymous university. Wallschleger racked up 7 tackles during the 2016 AFL season (via StatsCrew). Of course, the real person on that American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez Is based has already been in prison for a year during Wallschlager’s short AFL career, but it still creates an interesting connection.
Sources: Sportskeeda, StatsCrew