The Road to Coaching
Ayers’ path to coaching was not one that followed a traditional trajectory. Like many NFL players, his thoughts on life after football began to take shape as his career wound down. But for Ayers, it wasn’t a sudden revelation—it was something that evolved over time. Even during his playing days, he found himself naturally gravitating toward mentorship.
“One of the things I really enjoyed in the NFL was helping the younger guys,” Ayers recalled. “I remember taking Malik Jackson under my wing early on in his career. We had a similar playing style, and I made sure he understood how to carry himself as a professional. You start to see the impact you can have on someone’s career, and that sticks with you.”
As his career advanced, Ayers began to take on a more vocal leadership role in the locker room. He became a defensive cornerstone for teams like the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing key roles in several high-profile defenses. But with age came an increased desire to help others.
“I never looked at it as me being a coach, I just looked at it as being a mentor and helping the young guys,” Ayers said. “I started feeling drawn to coaching, to sharing everything I had learned—especially helping young players and guiding them through similar struggles and challenges I had faced.”
After retiring from the NFL in 2018, Ayers took a year off to recharge and spend time with his family, but the pull of football never faded. He had offers to join smaller schools as a full-time position coach, but wanted to take a more measured approach to his coaching career. He knew the importance of learning from others before stepping into a big role himself.
That’s where Knoxville came into play.
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