Ex-Dolphins cornerback Vontae Davis found dead at 35 at his Broward home; police are investigating
Former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis, a first-round pick of the Dolphins who played the first three seasons of his career in Miami, was found dead in a Broward mansion, police said. He was 35.
On Monday morning, Davie police responded to the home in 6000 block of Southwest 178th Avenue in Southwest Ranches. They were called to the mansion by the house assistant, who found Davis unresponsive.
Investigators said they don’t suspect foul play. According to public records, Davis has lived at the home since 2016.
“The investigation remains ACTIVE and ongoing,” spokesperson Sgt. Kelvin Urbaez said in a news release.
Davis last played in
2018 as a member of the Buffalo Bills, notably leaving at halftime of a Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Chargers without telling coaches or teammates. After the game, he released a statement announcing his retirement.
“This isn’t how I pictured retiring from the NFL,” Davis said in the statement. “But in my 10th NFL season, I have been doing what my body has been programmed to do: Get ready to play on game day.
“I’ve endured multiple surgeries and played through many different injuries throughout my career and, over the last few weeks, this was the latest physical challenge. But today on the field, reality hit me fast and hard: I shouldn’t be out there anymore.”
The Dolphins selected Davis with the 25th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. He started 36 of 48 games in Miami, recording 149 combined tackles, nine interceptions and one sack.
Weeks before the start of the 2012 season, the Dolphins traded Davis to the Indianapolis Colts for a 2013 second-round pick and a conditional 2013 sixth-round pick. The emotional moment in which former Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland told Davis he was being traded was captured in HBO’s 2012 edition of “Hard Knocks.”
“I’ve got to call my grandmother,” a shocked Davis immediately said.
The Dolphins on Monday released a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter), writing: “We are heartbroken by the sudden passing of former Dolphins CB Vontae Davis and extend our deepest condolences to his family & loves ones during this difficult time.”
After being traded to the Colts, Davis spent his next six seasons in Indianapolis, where became a two-time Pro Bowler in 2014 and ’15. In March 2014, before his first Pro Bowl season, Davis signed a four-year, $39 million contract extension. During Davis’ time with the Colts, he started all 76 games he appeared in, recording 245 combined tackles, 13 interceptions and one sack.
Davis played in just five games in the 2017 season, as he lost his starting role and the Colts released him during the season. He signed a one-year deal with the Bills in February 2018 before abruptly retiring.
Jim Irsay, the owner of the Colts, wrote on X on Monday afternoon: “Extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Vontae Davis. A great guy, teammate, player. My prayers to Vontae’s family.”
Chester Frazier, an assistant basketball coach at Illinois, where Davis played college football, also wrote on X: “#illinination we lost a great today!!! RIP TO @vontaedavis man nothing but good memories of that dude in school!!! Praying for the Davis family!!”
A Washington, D.C., native, Davis was a twotime first-team All-Big Ten selection at Illinois. Davis was the younger brother of former NFL tight end Vernon Davis, a two-time Pro Bowler who played 15 seasons.