Late Football Star Aaron Hernandez Had Gay Relationship in High School

Aaron Hernandez, the late NFL star-turned-convicted murderer, kept a long-time gay relationship secret while in high school, Hernandez was also said to have been physically and sexually abused as a teenager.

The former Patriot star killed himself while in prison in 2017 after being convicted of the murder of Odin Lloyd, a semi-professional player who was dating the sister of Hernandez" s="" fianc�e.="" He="" was="" also="" tried="" in="" the="" double-murders="" of="" two="" other="" men,="" Daniel="" de="" Abreu="" and="" Safiro="" Furtado,="" but="" was="" acquitted="" after="" a="" 2017="" trial.=""
In a report published by the Boston Globe's Spotlight Team, Hernandez had an on-again, off-again relationship with Dennis SanSoucie while both were in middle and high school in Bristol, CT where Hernandez grew up. SanSouchie was the quarterback, Hernandez the tight end. The two were unstoppable on the field. "In Hernandez's junior year, he caught 67 passes for a total of 1,807 yards, a Connecticut record, the Globe reported.

The two developed a sexual relationship that both kept hidden.

"Me and him were very much into trying to hide what we were doing. We didn't want people to know," SanSoucie told the Globe.

Both had reasons to keep their relationship hidden – Dennis was heading for the military, while Aaron for professional football. "It was not something they wanted people to know about," the Globe reported.

Especially with Hernandez's dad who "long had concerns that Aaron, as a boy, had a feminine way about him – the way he stood or used his hands, his brother (Jonathan) said."

"I remember he wanted to be a cheerleader. My cousins were cheerleaders and amazing," Jonathan said. "And I remember coming home and like my dad putting an end to that really quick. And it was not OK. My dad made it clear that... he had his definition of a man."

Hernandez's home life was definitely homophobic.

"'Faggot' was used all the time in our house," Jonathan said. "'All the time. Standing. Talking. Acting. Looking. It was the furthest thing my father wanted you to even look like in our household. That was not acceptable to him,'" the Globe report continued.

Hernandez later disclosed to his brother as an adult that he had been sexually abused as a young boy, but refused to say more to the Globe about the revelation.