Vontae Davis death: 5 things to know about former Miami Dolphins first-round pick
Former Miami Dolphins first-round pick Vontae Davis was found dead at his home in Broward County on Monday morning. Davis was 35.
Davis, who played high school football in Maryland and was selected out of Illinois with the 25th overall pick of the 2009 NFL Draft, played three seasons with the Dolphins from 2009-11.
The Dolphins released a statement on Davis' death: "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."
Obituary: Former Miami Dolphins first-round pick Vontae Davis, 35, found dead
Here are five things to know about the former Miami Dolphins cornerback:
How many years did Vontae Davis play in the NFL?
Davis played 10 seasons in the NFL from 2009-18 with the Miami Dolphins, Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills.
His most prolific seasons came with the Colts, who traded for Davis in 2012 for a second-round and conditional sixth-round pick.
Why did Vontae Davis call his grandmother on 'Hard Knocks'?
Davis famously made a phone call to his grandmother on HBO's "Hard Knocks," which featured the Miami Dolphins during the 2012 preseason.
Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland called Davis into his office to tell him about the trade. He responded that he was going to call his grandmother and responded to Ireland with a blank stare after the general manager told him the Dolphins would only acquire draft picks.
Miami used the second-round pick on cornerback Jamar Taylor, who lasted only three seasons with the Dolphins. They did not receive the sixth-round conditional after Davis played more than 65 percent of snaps with the Colts.
Did Vontae Davis make the Pro Bowl?
Davis enjoyed a stellar career with the Colts and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2014 and 2015.
The cornerback signed a four-year, $39 million contract with $20 million guaranteed prior to the 2014 season and responded in kind with his best-ever professional seasons. He had four interceptions in both campaigns.
Did Vontae Davis retire at halftime of an NFL game?
Davis' pro football career ended in an unexpected fashion as he walked off the field in the middle of a game while he played for the Buffalo Bills in 2018.
He removed himself from the game and told teammates and coaches that he was done playing football. He later described the move as "therapeutic" for his life.
Is Vontae Davis related to Vernon Davis?
Vontae Davis (1988) is the younger brother of longtime NFL tight end Vernon Davis (1984), who played 14 NFL seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins.
Both players went to Dunbar High School in Maryland and were first-round picks in the NFL Draft: Vernon from Maryland in 2006 and Vontae from Illinois in 2009.
Eric J. Wallace is deputy sports editor for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at ejwallace@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Vontae Davis dies: What to know about Dolphins first-rounder
