In FX’s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez, Norbert Leo Butz plays Bill Belichick, the coach of the New England Patriots. Butz, a diehard baseball fan with limited knowledge of football, initially had to familiarize himself with Belichick and the sport itself before taking on the role. Despite his lack of prior experience with football, Butz found that his distance from the sport worked to his advantage in preparing for the role. He immersed himself in research by reading biographies on Belichick and listening to podcasts to better understand the character he was portraying.
During filming, Butz delved even deeper into Belichick’s journey in the NFL and was particularly struck by the coach’s passion for football. Despite knowing he would never match Belichick’s knowledge of the sport, Butz found a way into the character through exploring Belichick’s relationship with his father and their shared sense of discipline and work ethic. This connection helped Butz tap into the essence of Belichick and his approach to the game, allowing him to convey a more nuanced portrayal of the coach on screen.
American Sports Story is based on the “Gladiator: Aaron Hernandez and Football Inc.” podcast, which focuses on Hernandez’s time as a tight end at the University of Florida and with the New England Patriots. The show also features fictional versions of real-life football figures such as Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, and Brian Murphy. While playing real people can be challenging, Butz found the experience of portraying Belichick to be rewarding due to his lack of preconceived notions about the character, allowing him to approach the role with a fresh perspective.
The series delves into Hernandez’s legal troubles off the field and examines the events that led to his tragic death. It also questions whether those around Hernandez failed to recognize the warning signs of his decline. Despite the focus on Hernandez’s story, Butz’s main goal was to do justice to Belichick’s character on screen and present a sensitive and respectful portrayal of the coach. While he doubts Belichick would watch the show due to the painful memories it may bring back, Butz hopes that the portrayal of Belichick is done with integrity and empathy.
Playing Belichick on American Sports Story made Butz a huge fan of the coach, despite Belichick’s divisive reputation. Butz admires Belichick’s brilliance and humor, as well as his contributions to the sport and his impact on athletes and fans. He expresses a genuine care and appreciation for Belichick’s legacy and wishes the coach continued success in his career. American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez airs on FX and Hulu, offering viewers a glimpse into the complex world of football and the individuals involved in the sport’s high-stakes drama.
