- June 8, 2010: Hernandez, a standout tight end drafted from the University of Florida, signs a four-year contract with the New England Patriots.
- Jan. 1, 2012: He sets a career best with 138 receiving yards in a win over Buffalo.
- July 16, 2012: Two men, Daniel de Abreu and Safiro Furtado, are shot to death in their car as they wait at a red light in Boston's South End neighborhood.
- Aug. 27, 2012: Hernandez signs a five-year, $40 million contract with the Patriots.
- February 2013: An associate, Alexander Bradley, is shot in the face in Florida.