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Robert Ayers

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Robert Ayers
refer to caption
Ayers with the Denver Broncos in 2009
No. 56, 91
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1985-09-06) September 6, 1985 (age 39)
Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:275 lb (125 kg)
Career information
High school:Bennettsville (SC) Marlboro
College:Tennessee (2004–2008)
NFL draft:2009 / round: 1 / pick: 18
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:265
Sacks:34.5
Forced fumbles:9
Fumble recoveries:3
Pass deflections:12
Defensive touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Robert Ayers (born September 6, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end for 10 years in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. He also played for the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Early life

[edit]

Ayers was born in Jersey City, New Jersey.[1] He spent part of his freshman year at Hoboken High School in 1999–2000 before moving to Clio, South Carolina,[2] where he attended Marlboro County High School in Bennettsville.[3] He was an All-State linebacker and was selected to play in the 2003 Shrine Bowl as a senior.[4] That season, he recorded 112 tackles and intercepted five passes. As a junior, he had 94 tackles, eight sacks, and three interceptions. In addition to football, he also lettered twice in track as a sprinter, running the 100-meter dash and 4 x 100 metres relay.

College career

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Ayers began at the University of Tennessee as a redshirt outside linebacker in 2004.[5][6] As a sophomore, he moved to defensive end and was a backup, recording five tackles and one sack. In 2006, he once again was a backup, totaling 25 tackles and one sack. In 2007, Ayers was once again a backup, but led the team with four sacks and 12 tackles for losses. He also had 34 tackles, two pass breakups and four quarterback pressures. As a senior in 2008 Ayers became a starter at right defensive end, recording 49 tackles, three sacks, one interception, and a team and league leading 15.5 tackles for losses.[7][8]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press Wonderlic
6 ft 3+1⁄8 in
(1.91 m) 		272 lb
(123 kg) 		4.78 s 1.62 s 2.78 s 4.46 s 7.07 s 29+1⁄2 in
(0.75 m)		 8 ft 6 in
(2.59 m)		 18 reps 29
20-ss and 3-cone from Tennessee Pro Day, all others from NFL Combine[9][10]

Denver Broncos

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Ayers was selected by the Denver Broncos as the second one of their two first round picks at 18th overall of the 2009 NFL draft.[11] The Broncos drafted Ayers with the first round pick that was traded from the Chicago Bears in exchange for Jay Cutler. On August 4, 2009, Ayers signed a five-year contract with $9.7 million guaranteed.[12] In his rookie season, he recorded 19 tackles and no sacks.[13] He recorded his first professional sack in week 1 of the 2010 season against David Garrard of the Jacksonville Jaguars.[14]

Ayers's second season was a bit of a disappointment to fans who were hoping for high production from the former first-round draft selection. In 2010, Ayers started in ten games as an outside linebacker and recorded 39 tackles and 1.5 sacks.[15]

Ayers finished the 2011 season with three sacks, 39 total tackles, three passes defended, and one forced fumble.[16] He had two sacks against the Steelers in the Wild Card Round victory.[17]

Ayers began the 2012 season as a backup under new defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio. He had two sacks and 16 total tackles in 15 games.[18]

In the 2013 season, Ayers had 5.5 sacks, 29 total tackles, and one forced fumble in 15 games and three starts.[19] In the AFC Championship, he had one sack in the 26–16 win over the Patriots.[20] The Broncos reached Super Bowl XLVIII, but fell to the Seattle Seahawks, 43–8.[21] Ayers recorded one tackle in the game.[22]

New York Giants

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Ayers signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the New York Giants on April 2, 2014.[23] He was placed on season ending injured reserve on December 2, 2014, after suffering a torn pectoral muscle.[24] In the 2014 season, he had five sacks, one pass defended, and one forced fumble in 12 games and one start.[25] In 2015, Ayers set a career record for sacks and led all Giants players in that category with 9.5 sacks despite missing four games.[26][27]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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On March 12, 2016, Ayers agreed to a three-year, $21 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[28] On September 11, Ayers recorded a sack in his Buccaneers debut, bringing down Matt Ryan in a 31–24 win over the Atlanta Falcons.[29] Ayers was sidelined for five weeks due to an ankle injury.[30][31] On November 13, he recorded a season-high 1.5 sacks and five tackles, as well as forcing fumble in the end zone, resulting as a safety in a 36–10 blowout win over the Chicago Bears.[32] Ayers wrapped up his first year as a Buccaneer with 6.5 sacks, 29 tackles, and a forced fumble.[33]

On October 22, 2017, Ayers brought down his first sack of the season, dropping Tyrod Taylor in a 27–30 loss to the Buffalo Bills.[34] On November 5, Ayers recorded a strip-sack against the New Orleans Saints.[35] He missed Week 12 & 13 due to a concussion.[36][37] Ayers played two more games, but missed the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.[38] He finished the season with two sacks, 31 tackles, and two forced fumbles.[39]

On March 17, 2018, Ayers was released by the Buccaneers.[40]

Detroit Lions

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On August 27, 2018, Ayers signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions,[41] but was released the next day.[42]

Retirement

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After sitting out the entire 2018 season, Ayers announced his retirement on July 16, 2019.[43]

NFL statistics

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Year Team GP COMB TOTAL AST SACK FF FR FR YDS INT IR YDS AVG IR LNG TD PD
2009 DEN 15 19 14 4 0.0 0 2 54 0 0 0 0 0 2
2010 DEN 11 39 32 7 1.5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2011 DEN 16 39 25 16 3.0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2012 DEN 15 16 8 8 2.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2
2013 DEN 15 29 26 7 5.5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2014 NYG 12 22 18 4 5.0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2015 NYG 12 41 31 10 9.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4
2016 TB 12 29 21 8 6.5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2017 TB 12 31 20 11 2.0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 120 265 195 75 34.5 9 3 54 0 0 0 0 0 13

Key

  • GP: games played
  • COMB: combined tackles
  • TOTAL: total tackles
  • AST: assisted tackles
  • SACK: sacks
  • FF: forced fumbles
  • FR: fumble recoveries
  • FR YDS: fumble return yards
  • INT: interceptions
  • IR YDS: interception return yards
  • AVG IR: average interception return
  • LNG: longest interception return
  • TD: interceptions returned for touchdown
  • PD: passes defensed

Coaching career

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Ayers joined the University of Tennessee coaching staff as a defensive graduate assistant before the 2023 season.[44]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Giants Ayers, Casillas have Jersey City hometown bond". USA TODAY. Associated Press. August 4, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  2. ^ Villanova, Patrick (January 28, 2014). "Super Bowl 2014: Jersey City's Robert Ayers relishes chance to return to former grammar school". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
  3. ^ Haggard, Mark (January 20, 2014). "Former Marlboro County Bulldog bound for Super Bowl". WPDE. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  4. ^ "2003 Shrine Bowl team by position". Spartanburg Herald Journal. October 21, 2003. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "Robert Ayers - Football". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "Robert Ayers College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  7. ^ "Robert Ayers 2008 Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "2008 Tennessee Volunteers Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  9. ^ "Robert Ayers Draft Profile". NFL.com. March 25, 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2009.
  10. ^ Nawrocki, Nolan (April 21, 2009). "The Way We Hear It — draft edition". Pro Football Weeklywebsite. Retrieved April 25, 2009.[permanent dead link‍]
  11. ^ "2009 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  12. ^ "Ayers signs 5-year deal". ESPN.com. Associated Press. August 3, 2009. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  13. ^ "Robert Ayers 2009 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  14. ^ "Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars - September 12th, 2010". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  15. ^ "Robert Ayers 2010 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  16. ^ "Robert Ayers 2011 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  17. ^ "Wild Card - Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos - January 8th, 2012". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "Robert Ayers 2012 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  19. ^ "Robert Ayers 2013 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  20. ^ "AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Denver Broncos - January 19th, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  21. ^ Kurtzman, Rich (February 4, 2014). "Before Super Bowl Disaster Struck, Broncos Had One Remarkable Season In 2013". CBS - Chicago. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "Super Bowl XLVIII – Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos – February 2nd, 2014". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
  23. ^ Patra, Kevin (April 2, 2014). "Robert Ayers signs contract with New York Giants". NFL.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  24. ^ Valentine, Ed (December 1, 2014). "Report: Torn pec will end Robert Ayers' season". Big Blue View. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  25. ^ "Robert Ayers 2014 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  26. ^ "Robert Ayers 2015 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  27. ^ "2015 New York Giants Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  28. ^ Knoblauch, Austin (March 11, 2016). "Robert Ayers agrees to 3-year, $21M deal with Bucs". NFL.com. Retrieved March 12, 2016.
  29. ^ Kania, Joe (September 11, 2016). "Bucs Defeat Falcons, 31–24, in Week 1". Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  30. ^ Laine, Jenna (September 18, 2016). "Bucs' Martin leaves game with hamstring injury". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  31. ^ Auman, Greg (November 4, 2016). "Bucs lose RB Antone Smith, DE Howard Jones for season with injuries". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  32. ^ Kania, Joe (November 13, 2016). "5 Standouts from Bucs vs. Bears". Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  33. ^ "Robert Ayers 2016 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  34. ^ Philipse, Sander (October 23, 2017). "Four winners, four losers for the Buccaneers against the Bills". Bucs Nation. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  35. ^ "5 Key Takeaways from Bucs vs. Saints". Tampa Bay Buccaneers. November 6, 2017. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  36. ^ Phillipse, Sander (November 22, 2017). "Robert Ayers, Evan Smith miss Buccaneers practice with concussions". Bucs Nation. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  37. ^ Phillipse, Sander (December 8, 2017). "Robert Ayers and Doug Martin cleared from concussion protocol". Bucs Nation. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
  38. ^ Vitali, Carmen (January 30, 2018). "2017 Player Recap: Robert Ayers Jr". Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Retrieved March 18, 2018.[permanent dead link‍]
  39. ^ "Robert Ayers 2017 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  40. ^ Vitali, Carmen (March 17, 2018). "Bucs Release Robert Ayers Jr". Buccaneers.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2018.
  41. ^ "Lions sign free agent DE Robert Ayers and waive CB Josh Okonye". DetroitLions.com. August 27, 2018. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  42. ^ Alper, Josh (August 28, 2018). "Lions release Robert Ayers a day after signing him". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  43. ^ Alper, Josh (July 16, 2019). "Robert Ayers calls it a career". NBC Sports. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
  44. ^ "Robert Ayers Jr. - Defensive Graduate Assistant - Staff Directory". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved March 10, 2024.
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