Former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis has been discovered dead at the age of 35, according to several reports. WSVN states that a male body was found on Monday morning at a residence owned by Davis’ grandmother in Southwest Ranches, Florida, approximately 30 miles from Miami. A source confirmed to the Miami station that the deceased individual has been identified as Davis.
TMZ reports that police have stated there is no evidence of foul play, and an investigation is currently underway.
Vontae Davis, the younger brother of Super Bowl champion Vernon Davis, was a standout player at the University of Illinois and was selected 25th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. Over his 10-season career, he played for the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, and Buffalo Bills.
Davis made headlines in 2018 when he abruptly retired at halftime of the Bills’ second regular-season game, a decision that sparked widespread discussion. His departure was compared to other high-profile exits, such as Antonio Brown’s in 2022.
Reflecting on his sudden retirement, Davis explained, “This isn’t how I pictured retiring from the NFL. But in my 10th NFL season, I’ve been doing what my body has been programmed to do: Get ready to play on game day. … Today on the field, reality hit me fast and hard: I shouldn’t be out there anymore… Mentally, I always expect myself to play at a high level. But physically, I know today that that isn’t possible.”
Throughout his career, Davis earned two Pro Bowl selections and recorded 396 tackles, 22 interceptions, and two sacks.
This is a 2018 photo of Vontae Davis of the Buffalo Bills NFL football team. This image reflects the Buffalo Bills active roster as of Tuesday, May 1, 2018 when this image was taken.
