Former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis, a first-round choose within the 2009 draft, has died on the age of 35.
Police discovered Davis’s physique on Monday morning in a home in Southwest Ranches, a suburban group within the Miami space.
“Officers had been known as to the residence by the home assistant, who discovered the house owner deceased,” Davie Police Division mentioned in a press release. “We will verify that the deceased particular person is Vontae Davis age 35. Preliminary data means that foul play just isn’t concerned.”
Davis, who was recognized for his considerate and quiet manner, had an outstanding faculty profession at Illinois earlier than he was picked within the first-round of the 2009 draft by the Miami Dolphins. In 2012 he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts the place he loved his finest years within the NFL, and was named to the Professional Bowl in 2014 and 2015. His remaining season got here with the Buffalo Payments in 2018, the place he gained consideration when he announced his retirement at half-time of a recreation towards the Los Angeles Chargers.
“I meant no disrespect to my teammates and coaches,” he mentioned on the time. “However I maintain myself to an ordinary. Mentally, I all the time count on myself to play at a excessive stage. However bodily, I do know at the moment that isn’t potential, and I had an sincere second with myself … it’s extra necessary for me and my household to stroll away wholesome than to willfully embrace the warrior mentality and limp away too late. This was an awesome resolution, however I’m at peace with myself and my household.”
Extraordinarily saddened to listen to of the passing of Vontae Davis. An ideal man, teammate, participant. My prayers to Vontae’s household.🙏
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) April 1, 2024
Jim Irsay, the principal proprietor of the Colts, paid tribute to Davis on Monday.
“Extraordinarily saddened to listen to of the passing of Vontae Davis. An ideal man, teammate, participant. My prayers to Vontae’s household,” Irsay wrote on X.
The Colts described him in a statement as somebody who “carried a smile and optimistic vitality each day”.
Davis got here from a soccer household: his brother Vernon performed tight finish for the San Francisco 49ers and Washington and was additionally a two-time Professional Bowler. The pair had been raised by their grandmother alongside their 4 different siblings in Washington DC. In 2015 Davis married his girlfriend, Megan Harpe.
Davis turned CEO of a Florida wellness spa after his retirement and mentioned he had no regrets about his resolution to stroll away from soccer.
“Most individuals, after I did what I did, they thought I used to be actually going insane or one thing,” he told ESPN in 2019. “However I used to be truly tremendous. I used to be completely tremendous. And I’m completely tremendous at the moment.”
