Robert Ayers

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
Ayers was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He spent part of his freshman year at Hoboken High School in 1999–2000 before moving to Clio, South Carolina, where he attended Marlboro County High School in Bennettsville. He was an All-State linebacker and was selected to play in the 2003 Shrine Bowl as a senior. 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
Ayers began at the University of Tennessee as a redshirt outside linebacker in 2004. 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.

Denver Broncos
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. 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. In his rookie season, he recorded 19 tackles and no sacks. He recorded his first professional sack in week 1 of the 2010 season against David Garrard of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

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.

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

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.

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

New York Giants
Ayers signed a two-year, $4 million contract with the New York Giants on April 2, 2014. He was placed on season ending injured reserve on December 2, 2014, after suffering a torn pectoral muscle. In the 2014 season, he had five sacks, one pass defended, and one forced fumble in 12 games and one start. 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.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On March 12, 2016, Ayers agreed to a three-year, $21 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. On September 11, Ayers recorded a sack in his Buccaneers debut, bringing down Matt Ryan in a 31–24 win over the Atlanta Falcons. Ayers was sidelined for five weeks due to an ankle injury. 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. Ayers wrapped up his first year as a Buccaneer with 6.5 sacks, 29 tackles, and a forced fumble.

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. On November 5, Ayers recorded a strip-sack against the New Orleans Saints. He missed Week 12 & 13 due to a concussion. Ayers played two more games, but missed the rest of the season with a shoulder injury. He finished the season with two sacks, 31 tackles, and two forced fumbles.

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

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

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

NFL statistics
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
Ayers joined the University of Tennessee coaching staff as a defensive graduate assistant before the 2023 season.