According to police on Monday, former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis, aged 35, was discovered deceased at a Florida mansion. The Davie Police Department stated that officers responded to a call from the house assistant in the 6000 block of SW 178th Avenue on Monday morning, finding Davis’ body. They also mentioned that initial findings do not indicate foul play.
The circumstances of Davis’ death have not been disclosed.Property records in Broward County reveal that the residence, valued at nearly $3 million, is registered to Adaline Davis, identified by NBC South Florida as Vontae Davis’ grandmother.
Davis, who had a tenure in the NFL spanning from 2009 until his retirement in 2018, played for the Miami Dolphins, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Buffalo Bills.
Tributes for the former defensive standout started flooding in on Monday afternoon from all three teams as well as the league. The NFL expressed its condolences in a post on X, stating, “It is heartbroken to hear about the passing of Vontae Davis. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
Owner of the Indianapolis Colts, Jim Irsay, also shared condolences on platform X. In one post, he shared a picture of Davis in a Colts’ uniform with a heart emoji above the photograph. In another post, Irsay wrote: “Extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Vontae Davis. A great guy, teammate, player. My prayers to Vontae’s family.”
Davis was drafted by Miami as the 25th pick in the first round of the 2009 draft after playing college football at the University of Illinois. In 2018, Davis made headlines by retiring at halftime during the Bills’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers, a move that caught many off guard. Regarding his decision to call it quits mid-game, he stated, “This isn’t how I pictured retiring from the NFL. But today, on the field, reality hit me hard and fast. I shouldn’t be out there anymore. … “I meant no disrespect to my teammates or coaches.” Over the course of his career, Davis received recognition with two Pro Bowl selections.