Feb. 7, 2026, 4:31 a.m. PT<\/p>\n
Sometimes a mid-season trade acquisition fails to make an impact. It\u2019s tough for a player to get familiar with a team and defensive scheme without being with them during training camp. That wasn\u2019t the case for former UCLA Bruin<\/a> Akeem Ayers, who was traded mid-season to the New England Patriots<\/a> in 2014 and helped the Patriots win the Super Bowl that season<\/a>.<\/p>\n The trade for Ayers was by no means a blockbuster. Ayers was traded along with a seventh round pick from the Tennessee Titans to the Patriots<\/a> in exchange for a sixth round pick. As far as trade capital goes, you\u2019ll rarely see a player get moved for less. Ayers fit right in with Matt Patricia\u2019s philosophy, recording 4.0 sacks in nine regular season games for the Patriots.<\/p>\n Ayers then appeared in all three Patriot playoff games, which culminated with a 28-24 win in Super Bowl XLIX over the Seattle Seahawks<\/a>. Ayers didn\u2019t record a sack or a tackle in the Super Bowl but the former Bruin did get a hit on Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. That game ended with Malcolm Butler\u2019s heroic interception at the goal line, as the Patriots defense forced a turnover to win the game.<\/p>\n After the Super Bowl, Ayers would never play another playoff game. In the offseason, Ayers signed with the St. Louis Rams and he would spend time with the Rams, Colts and Giants before retiring after the 2017 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ayers was a tremendous Bruin, playing three seasons with UCLA where he recorded 14 sacks and six interceptions for the Bruins<\/a> from 2008-2010. In the three seasons, Ayers scored three defensive touchdowns and forced an impressive seven fumbles.<\/p>\n