• His 45 receptions in 2010 set a franchise record for most receptions by a rookie tight end, passing Greg Baty's previous rookie tight end record of 37 receptions in 1986.
• His 563 receiving yards in 2010 rank second all-time by a Patriots rookie tight end behind Russ Francis (636 yards in 1975).

• Totaled a career playoff high nine receptions for 83 yards (9.2 avg) in the AFC Championship vs. Baltimore (1/20).
• Caught six passes for a postseason career high 85 yards (14.2 avg) including a career-playoff long 40-yard reception in the Divisional Playoff win vs. Houston (1/13).
• Caught a career-high 10 passes for 92 yards (9.2 avg) and a touchdown in the loss vs. San Francisco (12/16).
• Caught eight passes for the second straight week for 58 yards (7.3 avg) and two touchdowns in the won over Houston (12/10).
• Compiled season highs with eight receptions and 97 yards (12.1 avg) in the win at Miami (12/2).
• Returned to starting lineup to catch two passes for 36 yards (18.0 avg) at N.Y. Jets (11/22).
• Returned after missing three games due to injury at Seattle (10/14) to catch six passes for 30 yards (5.0 avg) and a touchdown.
• Was inactive due to injury vs. Indianapolis (11/18), vs. Buffalo (11/11), at St. Louis (10/28), vs. Denver (10/7), at Buffalo (9/30) and at Baltimore (9/23).
• Started at tight end vs. Arizona (9/16) and left on the team’s second offensive series with an ankle injury.
• Started and caught six passes for 59 yards (9.8 avg) and a touchdown in the season-opening with at Tennessee (9/9). Also rushed once for five yards.

• Bested his six touchdowns in 2010, finishing with seven touchdowns on the season and catching 79 passes for 910 yards.
• Tallied a team-high eight receptions for 67 yards and one touchdown against the Giants in Super Bowl XLVI (2/5).
• Led the team with seven receptions for 66 yards and added three carries for nine yards against the Ravens in the AFC Championship game (1/22).
• Started at tight end and snared four receptions for 55 yards with a 17-yard touchdown grab in the Divisional playoff game against the Broncos (1/14). Led the team with 61 rushing yards on five carries, including a 43-yard scamper on the Patriots first possession of the game.
• Recorded a career-long 19-yard rush, and caught seven passes for a career-high 138 yards (19.7 avg.) against the Bills, including a 39-yard touchdown pass from Brady that put Brady over 5,000 yards on the season (1/1).
• Caught four passes for 36 yards and carried the ball once for a gain of a yard in a start against the Dolphins (12/24).
• Set a career high with 9 receptions for 129 yards and one touchdown, including a season-long 46-yard reception, against the Broncos (12/18).  Added on 16-yard rush.
• Started against the Reskins, making five catches for 84 yards (16.8 avg.), including a 29-yard reception (12/11).
• Made seven catches for 43 yards against the Colts (12/4).
• Made six receptions for 62 yards in a reserve role against the Eagles (11/27).
• Caught four passes for 44 yards in a start against the Chiefs (11/21)
• Tallied 41 yards on four receptions in a start against the Jets (11/13).
• Caught four passes for 35 yards and one touchdown in a reserve role against the Giants (11/6).
• Recorded two catches for nine yards and one touchdown against the Steelers (10/30).
• Caught an eight-yard game-winning touchdown pass from Tom Brady with less than 30 seconds to go in the game. Set a career high with eight catches for 68 yards against the Cowboys (10/16).
• Returned to action against the Jets, catching five passes for 56 yards, including a 21-yard reception (10/9).
• Was inactive due to injury against the Bills (9/25) and Raiders (10/2).
• Scored in the second straight game, making seven catches for 62 yards against the Chargers (9/18).
• Caught seven passes for 103 yards, including a 30-yard reception and one touchdown in a start against the Dolphins (9/12).

• Set a Patriots record for most receptions by a rookie tight end after finishing with three catches and raising his season total to 39. Totalled 51 yards including a one- yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter against the Jets (12/6).
• Made one catch for 18 yards on a third-and-one situation in the second quarter against the Lions, keeping alive a 10-play, 83-yard Patriots scoring drive (11/25).
• Caught his third touchdown pass of the season, an eight- yard throw from Tom Brady in the second quarter against the Steelers (11/21).
• Saw time in a reserve role at tight end against the Steelers and played a down on defense, being credited with a pass defensed when he lined up deep to knock down a Pittsburgh Hail Mary attempt at the end of the first half (11/14).
• Led the team in receiving yards with 48 yards on five catches, scoring the Patriots’ only two touchdowns of the game against Cleveland (11/7). His longest reception of the game was 22 yards, giving him a reception of 20-plus yards in seven of the eight games this season.
• Finished with two receptions for 33 yards, including a 27-yard pass from Tom Brady against the Vikings (10/31).
• Tallied a 24-yard reception from Tom Brady in the fourth quarter against the Chargers (10/24), finishing the game with five receptions for 54 yards.
• Had four receptions for 61 yards, including a 30-yard reception in the first quarter and a 21-yard reception in the third quarter against Baltimore (10/17).
• Also had an 18-yard rush in the third quarter against Baltimore, which is the longest run by a tight end in Patriots history, besting the 13-yarder he had vs. Buffalo (9/26).
• Had five catches for 29 yards against the Dolphins (10/4).
• Led the team with six receptions for 65 yards, in addition to a 13-yard rush against the Bills in his third straight start (9/26).
• Led the team with 101 receiving yards on six catches, including a 46 yard reception from Tom Brady in the second quarter against the Jets, which marked his second game in a row with a catch of 40-plus yards (9/19).
• Played in and started his first NFL game in the season opener against the Bengals (9/12).
• Made the first reception of his career, a 45-yard catch from Tom Brady early in the game (9/12).

• Aaron Hernandez started 27-of-40 games at Florida, catching 111 passes for 1,382 yards (12.45 ypc) and 12 touchdowns, as he also recovered an on-side kickoff for a 1-yard loss...His 111 receptions set the school career-record for tight ends...His 68 catches in 2009 broke the Florida tight end season-record of 55 grabs by Kirk Kirkpatrick in 1990 and his 850 aerial yards in 2009 topped Kirkpatrick's previous UF tight end annual mark of 770 yards in 1990
• The only other tight end to lead Florida in receptions for a season outside of Hernandez and Kirkpatrick was Ben Troupe in 2003 (39 catches), but Troupe shared that lead with receiver Kelvin Kight that campaign...In his final collegiate game, Hernandez' nine receptions vs. Cincinnati in the 2010 Sugar Bowl was the most catches by a Gators tight end in a game
• Became the first Southeastern Conference tight end to catch nine passes in a game (vs. Alabama 12/05/09) since James Whalen of Kentucky in 1990...His 68 catches in 2009 were the most by an SEC tight end since Whalen's 1990 total of 90
• 2009 (Junior): The consensus All-American and unanimous All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection became the first player in league history to receive the John Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end
• Became the third tight end in school history to lead the team in receptions, as he also led the nation's tight ends with 68 grabs, finishing second on the team with 850 yards (12.5 ypc), as five of his catches were good for touch-downs
• Gained at least 50 yards receiving in eight contests and had at least four receptions in 10 of his games
• Caught 81.93% of the passes targeted to him (68-of-83), as three of those attempts were deflected by the opposition...36 of his receptions (52.94%) produced first downs, as he converted 12-of-22 third-down plays...32 of his catches (47.06%) gained at least 10 yards, including 13 for 20 yards or longer (19.12%)...Had key receptions that led to 13 Florida touchdown drives and on seven possessions that resulted in field goals
• 2008 (Sophomore): Sophomore All-American honorable mention by College Football News...All-Southeastern Conference second-team selection by The NFL Draft Report...Started 11 of 13 games he appeared in, missing the season opener vs. Hawaii (coach's decision)...Finished third on the team with 34 receptions for 381 yards (11.21 ypc) and five touchdowns... Gained at least 50 yards receiving in four contests and had at least four receptions in four games
• 2007 (Freshman): Freshman All-American honorable mention by College Football News...Earned SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll recognition...Played in 13 games as a freshman, starting three contests (vs. Troy, Florida State and Michigan)...Finished his rookie season with nine receptions for 151 yards (16.78 ypc) and two touchdowns.

• Attended Bristol (Ct.) Central High School…Rated the best tight end in the country by Scout.com and second by Rivals.com…The two-time All-Conference selection was named the Hartford Courant Player of the Year and earned first-team All-State honors after leading his team to the 2006 Central Connecticut Conference Southern Division Championship…That year, he set Connecticut state records for receiving yards (1,807) and touchdown catches (24) in a season…Also set a state record for most receiving yards in a game with 376 on nine catches, which rated as the seventh-best game total in national high school history
• Established a national high school record for yards receiving per game (180.7)…Also tied a state record for career touchdown receptions with 31…The tight end was also a standout performer on defense
•  a senior, Hernandez recorded 72 tackles, with 12 quarterback sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and four blocked kicks…After his final season, he played for the East team in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl
• In addition to his gridiron exploits, he also lettered in basketball. Social & Behavioral Sciences major
• Son of Terri and the late Dennis Hernandez…Born 11/6/89…Resides in Bristol, Connecticut.

EXTRA POINTS

• Hernandez grew up a Patriots fan in Bristol, Conn. Drew Bledsoe was his favorite player as a child. 
• Aaron's  AAU basketball team (2004-2006)  was coached by current UConn Women’s Basketball coach and Hall of Famer Geno Auriemma.