Former NFL player Vontae Davis was found dead in his South Florida home on Monday, authorities announced, per CNN. Davis, a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback, played in the NFL for 10 years and had stints with teams including the Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, and Miami Dolphins.
The 35-year-old played in 121 NFL games and made 22 interceptions and 97 pass deflections. The Davie Police Department said that officers found Davis’ body in his home after they received a report and responded to the scene. Police also said preliminary investigation shows there was no foul play in his death.
The Miami Dolphins selected Davis with the 25th pick in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft after his college career at Illinois. He then went on to have a stellar career with the Colts after the Dolphins traded him in 2012. In 2014, Davis agreed to a four-year, $39 million contract to continue playing with the Colts.
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Davis is also remembered for his abrupt and dramatic halftime retirement in 2018. He had signed with the Buffalo Bills at the time, and he decided to hang up his cleats during their game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
His abrupt retirement came as a surprise to his teammates as well as the NFL. “I had more of an out-of-body, spiritual moment, and my intuition was telling me that football was no longer for me,” Davis explained to CNN at the time.
He said the sport’s physical nature was one of the reasons for his retirement. He also made mention of NFL players suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as a result of head hits.
“All of that stuff goes into consideration,” Davis explained. “I no longer wanted to sacrifice my body where it didn’t benefit me moving forward.”
“I come from very humble beginnings,” he added. “My mother was addicted to drugs, my father an alcoholic. I grew up in some very traumatic situations. I witnessed my father being shot multiple times by his brother. And when you come out of situations like that, you’re just not considered a quitter.
“I don’t think I quit. I think I feel that, as I walk away from a game that no longer serves me mentally, physically, and emotionally. That’s what I would tell people who say I quit. Most people don’t know who I am as a person or what I’ve been through to achieve the success I have.”
The NFL in a statement said it was “heartbroken” to hear about Davis’ death and shared its condolences with the deceased 35-year-old’s family and loved ones.
“We are heartbroken by the sudden passing of former Dolphins CB Vontae Davis and extend our deepest condolences to his family & loved ones during this difficult time,” the Dolphins also said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
The Colts similarly paid tribute to Davis. “We are devastated to hear of Vontae Davis’s passing. He was a standout player in his six seasons with the Horseshoe, but he was an even better teammate who carried a smile and positive energy every day,” the NFL franchise said. “He will be deeply missed, and we send our prayers to his family and loved ones.”
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of Vontae Davis,” the Bills also shared in a statement. “We are thinking of his friends, family, and loved ones during this difficult time.”
