Former NFL player, DC native Vontae Davis dies

WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Police in Florida found former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis dead Monday, according to ESPN and other media outlets, including the Associated Press.

Vontae Davis, who graduated in 2006 from Dunbar High School in D.C., was 35 years old.

Unexpected factor behind death of former NFL player Mike Williams

The report by ESPN said that the Davie Police Department in Broward County, Fla. received a medical call in the morning after the house assistant at Vontae Davis’ home found the former football player dead. ESPN added that the police department did not suspect foul play in Vontae Davis’ death.

During his career, Vontae Davis played for the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and Indianapolis Colts. He retired in 2018.

The news of Vontae Davis’ death hit those who knew him at Dunbar High School hard where he was involved in both track and football. A floor plaque in his honor is etched into the floor in the lobby of the high school.

Marvin Parker supervises Dunbar’s track team and coached Vontae Davis.

“Vontae had what they called it,” Parker said. “He was a constant machine. He was like a sponge. He was always listening. Always wanted to know how can he get better. He didn’t talk a lot. But he was a leader by show, a leader by deed.”

Instagram post may shed new light in death of former NFL player’s mother

Parker said Vontae Davis’ work ethic was something he marveled at and wanted others to emulate.

“He would go to football practice and after football practice would come to track practice,” he said.” Yeah. So we would be here to eight, nine at night.”

He said it was known at Dunbar that Vontae Davis “was destined for greatness.”

“He always wanted to walk in his own shadow. He made that clear,” Parker said. “He made his own path, not walking in his brother’s shadow. He was always polite. That’s another thing I noticed about Vontae. He was. He was polite and a very respectful young man.”

Vontae Davis’ brother, Vernon Davis, also was a familiar name in the National Football League. Vernon Davis played for the San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, and Washington Redskins, prior to its current name of Commanders.

Yamar Johnson, 17, who plays football at Dunbar, said his father played with Vontae Davis and always respected both brother’s and their athletic talents.

“They both [brought] the charisma, the energy to practice and things of that nature and the energy to games,” Johnson said. “That made me love the game more, to come out there with the same type of intensity.”

Former NFL player faces DUI charge after Florida crash: police

Daniel McDowell, who is the athletic director at Dunbar, said Vontae Davis set a high bar for athletes to follow both on and off the field. He had hoped to bring him back to the school soon where both brothers put on football camps for kids.

“Vontae is well respected in our community,” McDowell said. “We know he was a great inspiration to our community.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | Washington, DC.