American football player (born 1985)
American football player
Robert Ayers
Ayers with the Denver Broncos in 2009
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Position:
| Defensive end
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Born:
| (
1985-09-06
)
September 6, 1985
(age 38)
Jersey City, New Jersey
, U.S.
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Height:
| 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
|
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Weight:
| 275 lb (125 kg)
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|
High school:
| Bennettsville (SC) Marlboro
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---|
College:
| Tennessee
(2004?2008)
|
---|
NFL draft:
| 2009
/ Round: 1 / Pick: 18
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|
|
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
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Player stats at
PFR
|
|
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
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
Denver Broncos
[
edit
]
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
.
[12]
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.
[13]
In his rookie season, he recorded 19 tackles and no sacks.
[14]
He recorded his first professional sack in week 1 of the 2010 season against
David Garrard
of the
Jacksonville Jaguars
.
[15]
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.
[16]
Ayers finished the 2011 season with three sacks, 39 total tackles, three passes defended, and one forced fumble.
[17]
He had two sacks against the Steelers in the Wild Card Round victory.
[18]
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.
[19]
In the
2013 season
, Ayers had 5.5 sacks, 29 total tackles, and one forced fumble in 15 games and three starts.
[20]
In the AFC Championship, he had one sack in the 26?16 win over the Patriots.
[21]
The
Broncos
reached
Super Bowl XLVIII
, but fell to the
Seattle Seahawks
, 43?8.
[22]
Ayers recorded one tackle in the game.
[23]
New York Giants
[
edit
]
Ayers signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the
New York Giants
on April 2, 2014.
[24]
He was placed on season ending injured reserve on December 2, 2014, after suffering a torn pectoral muscle.
[25]
In the 2014 season, he had five sacks, one pass defended, and one forced fumble in 12 games and one start.
[26]
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.
[27]
[28]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
[
edit
]
On March 12, 2016, Ayers agreed to a three-year, $21 million contract with the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
.
[29]
On September 11, Ayers recorded a sack in his Buccaneers debut, bringing down
Matt Ryan
in a 31?24 win over the
Atlanta Falcons
.
[30]
Ayers was sidelined for five weeks due to an ankle injury.
[31]
[32]
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
.
[33]
Ayers wrapped up his first year as a Buccaneer with 6.5 sacks, 29 tackles, and a forced fumble.
[34]
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
.
[35]
On November 5, Ayers recorded a strip-sack against the
New Orleans Saints
.
[36]
He missed Week 12 & 13 due to a concussion.
[37]
[38]
Ayers played two more games, but missed the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
[39]
He finished the season with two sacks, 31 tackles, and two forced fumbles.
[40]
On March 17, 2018, Ayers was released by the Buccaneers.
[41]
Detroit Lions
[
edit
]
On August 27, 2018, Ayers signed a one-year contract with the
Detroit Lions
,
[42]
but was released the next day.
[43]
Retirement
[
edit
]
After sitting out the entire
2018 season
, Ayers announced his retirement on July 16, 2019.
[44]
NFL statistics
[
edit
]
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
[
edit
]
Ayers joined the University of Tennessee coaching staff as a defensive graduate assistant before the 2023 season.
[45]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
"Giants Ayers, Casillas have Jersey City hometown bond"
.
USA TODAY
. Associated Press. August 4, 2015
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
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
.
- ^
Haggard, Mark (January 20, 2014).
"Former Marlboro County Bulldog bound for Super Bowl"
.
WPDE
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"2003 Shrine Bowl team by position"
.
Spartanburg Herald Journal
. October 21, 2003
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers - Football"
.
University of Tennessee Athletics
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits"
.
College Football at Sports-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers 2008 Game Log"
.
College Football at Sports-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"2008 Tennessee Volunteers Stats"
.
College Football at Sports-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers"
.
NFL Draft Scout.com
. March 25, 2009
. Retrieved
April 25,
2009
.
- ^
NFL.com
- ^
Nawrocki, Nolan (April 21, 2009).
"The Way We Hear It ? draft edition"
.
Pro Football Weeklywebsite
. Retrieved
April 25,
2009
.
[
permanent dead link
]
- ^
"2009 NFL Draft Listing"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
December 3,
2019
.
- ^
"Ayers signs 5-year deal"
.
ESPN.com
. Associated Press. August 3, 2009
. Retrieved
January 6,
2014
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers 2009 Game Log"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars - September 12th, 2010"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers 2010 Game Log"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
December 3,
2019
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers 2011 Game Log"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Wild Card - Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos - January 8th, 2012"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers 2012 Game Log"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers 2013 Game Log"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"AFC Championship - New England Patriots at Denver Broncos - January 19th, 2014"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
Kurtzman, Rich (February 4, 2014).
"Before Super Bowl Disaster Struck, Broncos Had One Remarkable Season In 2013"
.
CBS - Chicago
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Super Bowl XLVIII ? Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos ? February 2nd, 2014"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
December 3,
2019
.
- ^
Patra, Kevin (April 2, 2014).
"Robert Ayers signs contract with New York Giants"
.
NFL.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
Valentine, Ed (December 1, 2014).
"Report: Torn pec will end Robert Ayers' season"
.
Big Blue View
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers 2014 Game Log"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers 2015 Game Log"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"2015 New York Giants Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
Knoblauch, Austin (March 11, 2016).
"Robert Ayers agrees to 3-year, $21M deal with Bucs"
.
NFL.com
. Retrieved
March 12,
2016
.
- ^
Kania, Joe (September 11, 2016).
"Bucs Defeat Falcons, 31?24, in Week 1"
.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. Retrieved
March 18,
2018
.
- ^
Laine, Jenna (September 18, 2016).
"Bucs' Martin leaves game with hamstring injury"
.
ESPN.com
. Retrieved
March 18,
2018
.
- ^
Auman, Greg (November 4, 2016).
"Bucs lose RB Antone Smith, DE Howard Jones for season with injuries"
.
Tampa Bay Times
. Retrieved
March 18,
2018
.
- ^
Kania, Joe (November 13, 2016).
"5 Standouts from Bucs vs. Bears"
.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. Retrieved
March 18,
2018
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers 2016 Game Log"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
Philipse, Sander (October 23, 2017).
"Four winners, four losers for the Buccaneers against the Bills"
.
Bucs Nation
. Retrieved
March 18,
2018
.
- ^
"5 Key Takeaways from Bucs vs. Saints"
.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. November 6, 2017
. Retrieved
March 18,
2018
.
- ^
Phillipse, Sander (November 22, 2017).
"Robert Ayers, Evan Smith miss Buccaneers practice with concussions"
.
Bucs Nation
. Retrieved
March 18,
2018
.
- ^
Phillipse, Sander (December 8, 2017).
"Robert Ayers and Doug Martin cleared from concussion protocol"
.
Bucs Nation
. Retrieved
March 18,
2018
.
- ^
Vitali, Carmen (January 30, 2018).
"2017 Player Recap: Robert Ayers Jr"
.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. Retrieved
March 18,
2018
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers 2017 Game Log"
.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
Vitali, Carmen (March 17, 2018).
"Bucs Release Robert Ayers Jr"
.
Buccaneers.com
. Archived from
the original
on March 18, 2018.
- ^
"Lions sign free agent DE Robert Ayers and waive CB Josh Okonye"
.
DetroitLions.com
. August 27, 2018
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
Alper, Josh (August 28, 2018).
"Lions release Robert Ayers a day after signing him"
.
NBC Sports
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
Alper, Josh (July 16, 2019).
"Robert Ayers calls it a career"
.
NBC Sports
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
- ^
"Robert Ayers Jr. - Defensive Graduate Assistant - Staff Directory"
.
University of Tennessee Athletics
. Retrieved
March 10,
2024
.
External links
[
edit
]