Robert Ayers Jr. is officially returning to the University of Tennessee for the 2023 season!

Since completing his NFL career, Ayers has spent time as a high school coach in the Knoxville area as a defensive line coach (2020) and DC (2021) at Knoxville Cathol High School. He was then the DC at Oak Ridge High School in 2022.

On Tuesday, the Vols officially announced Ayers will be added to Josh Heupel’s coaching staff for the 2023 season. Ayers will fill a defensive graduate assistant role for the program.

Ayers played for the Volunteers from 2005-08, recording 113 total tackles with 31.5 TFL, 9 sacks and an interception. He developed into a first-round pick for the Denver Broncos in the 2009 NFL Draft. He was also a part of Tennessee’s last 10-win season prior to 2022 during the 2007 season under Phillip Fulmer.

Ayers went on to play 9 NFL seasons across 3 teams, finishing his NFL career with 34.5 sacks and 51 TFL.