Akeem Ayers

Akeem Christopher Ayers (born July 10, 1989) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins, earning second-team All-American honors in 2010. Ayers was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft. He has also played for the New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants. He won Super Bowl XLIX with the Patriots.

Akeem Ayers

Ayers with the Indianapolis Colts in 2016
No. 56, 55, 48
Position:	Linebacker
Personal information
Born:	(1989-07-10) July 10, 1989 (age 36) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	247 lb (112 kg)
Career information
High school:	Verbum Dei (Los Angeles)
College:	UCLA
NFL draft:	2011: 2nd round, 39th pick
Career history
Tennessee Titans (2011–2014) New England Patriots (2014) St. Louis Rams (2015) Indianapolis Colts (2016) New York Giants (2017)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XLIX) Second-team All-American (2010) First-team All-Pac-10 (2010)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 323 Sacks: 15.5 Forced fumbles: 4 Fumble recoveries: 4 Interceptions: 4 Defensive touchdowns: 1 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

Ayers attended Verbum Dei High School in Los Angeles, where he played for the Verbum Dei Eagles high school football team. He won a CIF championship during his senior season.

College career

Ayers played for UCLA in college. Ayers is known for his athletic interceptions for touchdowns, one in the 2009 season against Oregon and one against Temple in the 2009 EagleBank Bowl. The latter was the game-winning score of the bowl game and helped him earn MVP honors.^[1] In a post-game interview, he admitted that he slipped, and was just trying to rush the passer on his game-changing play. As he got up, he saw the quarterback looking to pass, jumped up, and pulled in the pass for an interception and score.

On September 18, 2010, Ayers had a key interception against #23 Houston in UCLA's first win against a ranked opponent since 2008.^[2] The following week on September 25, he played a key role in the Bruins' second upset against a ranked opponent in a victory over No. 7 ranked Texas Longhorns 34–12 in front of more 101,000 fans in Austin, Texas. Ayers had a key interception, seven tackles, a forced fumble, and a sack. He was named Lott IMPACT Player of the Week on September 27. At the end of the 2010 season, his junior year, he entered for the NFL draft.^[3]

College statistics

Year	Total Tackles	Solo Tackles	Sacks	Tackles for Loss	Interceptions	DefTD
2008	40	28	4.0	5.0	0	0
2009	75	55	6	13.0	4	3*
2010	68	45	4	10	2	0
TOTALS	183	128	13	29.5	6	3

*Had two interceptions for touchdown and one fumble recovery for touchdown

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables

Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
6 ft 2+1⁄2 in (1.89 m)	254 lb (115 kg)	33 in (0.84 m)	9 in (0.23 m)	4.70 s	1.62 s	2.83 s	4.28 s	7.19 s	34+1⁄2 in (0.88 m)	9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)	22 reps
All values from UCLA Pro Day[4]

Tennessee Titans

Ayers was selected 39th overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2011 NFL draft.^[5][6]

New England Patriots

On October 21, 2014, the Titans traded Ayers along with a seventh round draft pick in the 2015 NFL draft to the New England Patriots for a sixth round draft choice.^[7] In each of his first two games with New England, Ayers recorded a sack.

Ayers won Super Bowl XLIX with the Patriots after they defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28-24.

St. Louis Rams

Ayers with the Rams in 2015.

On March 12, 2015, Ayers signed a two-year contract with the St. Louis Rams.^[8] On September 3, 2016, he was released by the Rams as part of final roster cuts.^[9]

Indianapolis Colts

Ayers signed a two-year contract with the Indianapolis Colts on September 6, 2016.^[10] On September 2, 2017, Ayers was released during final roster cuts.^[11]

New York Giants

On November 14, 2017, Ayers signed with the New York Giants.^[12]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold	Career high

Regular season

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2011	TEN	16	16	76	50	26	2.0	6	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	0
2012	TEN	16	13	104	66	38	6.0	8	1	2	0	2	8	1	0	0	0
2013	TEN	16	14	49	37	12	1.0	5	1	5	0	5	5	1	0	0	0
2014	TEN	2	0	3	1	2	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	NWE	9	4	20	16	4	4.0	6	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
2015	STL	16	10	47	35	12	0.5	3	0	0	0	0	5	1	3	45	1
2016	IND	16	0	21	14	7	2.0	1	1	25	0	25	2	0	0	0	0
2017	NYG	6	0	3	2	1	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
		97	57	323	221	102	15.5	29	4	32	0	25	22	4	4	45	1

Playoffs

Year	Team	Games		Tackles					Interceptions					Fumbles
		GP	GS	Cmb	Solo	Ast	Sck	TFL	Int	Yds	TD	Lng	PD	FF	FR	Yds	TD
2014	NWE	3	0	2	1	1	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
		3	0	2	1	1	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0