Former NFL star Vontae Davis found dead in Miami home at age 35 – MASHAHER

Vontae Davis, former NFL cornerback for the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts, and Buffalo Bills, has died, NFL Media confirmed. He was 35, just two months short of his 36th birthday.

The cause and circumstances of his death are unknown. According to the Davie, Florida police department, Davis was found dead in his home on Monday morning after being discovered by the house assistant. A death investigation is currently underway, though investigators have said they don’t expect foul play.

Davis, who spent a decade in the NFL, is best known for his abrupt retirement in 2018. At halftime of the Bills’ Week 2 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Davis abruptly retired. After, he released a lengthy statement explaining his move.

After his sudden retirement, Davis seemed to be in a good place. The Washington Post did a profile on him in late 2019, a year after he left the game, and he had recently published “Middle School Rules,” a children’s book in which professional athletes share lessons they learned growing up.

Davis shared his own story in the book: a rough upbringing in Washington, D.C. with a violent father and a drug-addicted father. His grandmother saved him and his six siblings, taking them from foster care and adopting him. In school, Davis excelled athletically in both football and track, and ended up choosing to attend Illinois. He was a first-round draft pick in 2009, and was a two-time All-Pro during his NFL career.

Davis was arrested two months ago in Miami for driving under the influence. He hit a truck pulled over with a flat tire, then was found asleep by the side of the road when police arrived. He admitted to police at the scene that he had been drinking.

As news of Davis’ death began to spread, tributes started appearing on social media. Colts owner Jim Irsay, sports personality Pat McAfee, and former teammate T.Y. Hilton all shared their feelings about Davis’ sudden passing.