My family, including my mother, Terri, provided me with the support that allowed me to write this book. Thanks for always being a phone call away.
To my wife, Karen, and daughter, Parker, you two are the best teammates I’ve ever had in my life. I will forever appreciate the sacrifices you both made to allow me the time to complete this book. Thank you for understanding how much this project means to me. I love you both with all my heart.
Finally, to Aaron, my best friend. I love you—always.
Photo Section
Aaron (left) and me playing in our grandparents’ backyard.
(All photographs are courtesy of the Hernandez family unless otherwise noted.)
Christmas Eve in our living room.
Playing with our dad and our German shepherd, UConn, in our driveway.
A family photo with our mother and father after Aaron’s eighth-grade graduation. He’s wearing our father’s favorite tie.
During his senior year of high school, Aaron runs with the ball for Bristol Central against South Windsor. He had 7 receptions for 179 yards and 3 touchdowns in the first half. (David Greenleaf/Bristol Central)
In memory of our father, Aaron had “DAD” shaved into the back of his head.
Aaron signing papers to declare for the NFL draft.
With Aaron in Los Angeles in January 2010.
Aaron and our mother at the Walter Camp National Awards banquet in New Haven, Connecticut, following his final season at Florida.
With Aaron on my wedding day, March 4, 2011, as the bride walked down the aisle. (Jennifer Fiereck/J. Fiereck Photography)
Embracing Aaron the night he was drafted by the Patriots, April 24, 2010.
With our cousins at a family Christmas party, December 24, 2012.
Together on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium, in Indianapolis, before Super Bowl XLVI.
Wes Welker (right) watches Aaron’s “Make It Rain” touchdown celebration after scoring in the third quarter of Super Bowl XLVI. (Rob Carr/Super Bowl XLVI/Getty Images)
About the Authors
JONATHAN HERNANDEZ was a starting quarterback at Bristol Central High School, where he was named Connecticut’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2003. He went on to play at the University of Connecticut, where he became a two-time team captain and earned his master’s degree in educational psychology. He later had coaching stints at Southington High School (2009–10), Brown University (2011), the University of Miami (2012), and the University of Iowa (2013–14), and was the head coach at Ledyard High School (2017).
LARS ANDERSON is a New York Times bestselling author of eight books. A twenty-year veteran of Sports Illustrated, he is a contributing writer to the Athletic.
Discover great authors, exclusive offers, and more at hc.com.
Copyright
Certain names and identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.
THE TRUTH ABOUT AARON. Copyright © 2018 by Jonathan Hernandez. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
Cover design by James Iacobelli
Cover photograph © Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
FIRST EDITION
Digital Edition OCTOBER 2018 ISBN: 978-0-06-287294-4
Version 10132018
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-287271-5
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5H 4E3
www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida
Uttar Pradesh 201 301
www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
Unit D1, 63 Apollo Drive
Rosedale 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF, UK
www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
www.harpercollins.com
The Truth About Aaron Page 16