Former NFL star Vontae Davis was found dead in the gym area of his Florida mansion on Monday, according to reports.
Davis, who played for the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills, suddenly passed away at the age of 35 after his body was discovered in his Southwest Ranches home.
7News Miami say the property is registered in his grandmother’s name, but police referred to him as the owner. The ex-cornerback’s death comes a year after he was found curled up asleep on the side of a highway after crashing his Tesla in South Florida.
According to police audio obtained by TMZ Sports, an unidentified woman called 911 and told dispatchers that she discovered Davis’ body in the gym area of the house.
She is said to have initially been unable to find him, before dispatchers attempted to get her to obtain a defibrillator after locating his body. It is unclear whether the woman or anyone else in the house retrieved it or attempted to use it on Davis.
Former NFL star Vontae Davis was found dead in the gym area of his Florida mansion
Reports say the property is registered in Davis’ grandmother’s name but police referred to him as the owner
Cars were seen arriving at the property on Monday following his tragic passing
Davis played for the Miami Dolphins , Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills in his NFL career
In further audio that was released, another person who identified as Davis’ personal assistant claimed to have last seen him alive on Friday.
They added: ‘Then I know that someone saw him on Saturday.’
Davis was pronounced dead at the scene after police responded to the calls from his property. Preliminary info is said to indicate that there were no signs of foul play.
Tributes poured in for the two-time Pro Bowler on Monday, with former team the Miami Dolphins writing on social media: ‘We are heartbroken by the sudden passing of former Dolphins CB Vontae Davis and extend our deepest condolences to his family & loved ones during this difficult time.’
The NFL also said: ‘The NFL is heartbroken to hear about the passing of Vontae Davis. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.’
His childhood friend, Bobby Maze, confirmed the passing in an emotional Facebook statement.
‘To my childhood friend and to my brother Vontae Davis rest in peace,’ Maze wrote. ‘No words can explain how I feel right now.
‘You was one of a kind and so full of life. Life will never be the same without my brother. Them FaceTime calls etc damn I wish we could have one more convo. You beat the odds, you made it, you did it your way, it just wasn’t supposed to end like this.’
In February 2023, he was found asleep at the side of the road after crashing his Tesla
Davis (No 21) pictured during his playing days with the Indianapolis Colts back in 2015
In 2017, Davis married his long-term girlfriend Megan Harpe (right) in Puerto Rico
Pat McAfee, meanwhile, held back tears as he opened up on the death of his former Colts teammate and friend Davis live on his ESPN show on Monday.
With his voice breaking, McAfee said: ‘It’s been an interesting vibe all show because we learned this morning that a former teammate of ours, Vontae Davis, was found unresponsive in his house.
‘Vontae was an incredibly cool dude, good guy, nice guy, upbeat guy, energetic guy.’
After speaking for a few minutes on Davis’ character, McAfee urged his TV audience to ‘reach out to your people and tell them they’re not alone.’
Davis was the 25th pick in the 2009 NFL Draft and played until 2018, when he abruptly retired in the middle of a Bills game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
In November last year, he cut a plea deal with prosecutors in Broward County, Florida after driving his vehicle under the influence. Back in February, Davis crashed his black Tesla into the rear of a Toyota pickup truck on a highway in the South Florida county.
Pictures obtained by TMZ show Davis asleep with his arms under his head, dressed in a mint green ensemble as the wreckage of both cars sits nearby.
He was also ordered to complete 50 hours of community service and to pay fines and fees to cover the medical bills for those injured in the crash.
Tributes have poured in for Davis from the NFL, his former teams and ex-teammates
Pat McAfee spoke to his ESPN audience just minutes after Vontae Davis’ death was announced
Witnesses also told TMZ that Davis stayed asleep – even while first responders moved around him – until cops put him in the back of a police car.
Even then, Davis seemed to struggle to stay awake – with footage showing him asleep in his seat.
A spokesperson for the Florida Highway Patrol told TMZ that first responders arrived at the scene of a car crash involving two vehicles on State Road 821 on Saturday, February 4, at around 7.51am.
When police interacted with Davis, they said, as revealed by TMZ: ‘Your eyes are bloodshot. Your speech is slurred. You can barely stay awake. All right? You almost killed somebody.’
Officers asked Davis if he had consumed any alcohol, to which he replied: ‘Yes, I had two drinks. Two mixed drinks.’
His brother Vernon told TMZ in February 2023 that the arrest was ‘a very tough situation’ but that his younger sibling was ‘doing well’.
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