Illinois men’s basketball assistant coach Chester Frazier first broke the news of former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis’ passing on social media. The cause of death is currently unknown as police are conducting further inquiries after discovering the body of a deceased male at his residence in Southwest Ranches, Florida.
Davis, originally from Washington D.C., had a successful nine-year career in the NFL after playing college football at Illinois. He was selected in the first round of the 2009 draft by the Miami Dolphins and went on to play for the Indianapolis Colts for most of his professional career, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2015 and 2016. Despite facing criticism, Davis stood by his decision to retire abruptly during halftime of a game in 2018 while playing for the Buffalo Bills due to injuries that plagued him in his final seasons.
Throughout his career, Davis recorded 22 interceptions with four seasons of at least four interceptions each. His older brother, Vernon, also had a successful NFL career primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, expressed his sadness at Davis’ passing and offered condolences to his family.
