Vontae Davis Explains Abrupt Retirement from Bills: ‘Leaving Was Therapeutic’

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Former NFL cornerback Vontae Davis acknowledged his retirement at halftime of the Buffalo Bills‘ loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday was unorthodox.

But he doesn’t regret it. 

Davis told Domonique Foxworth of The Undefeated:

“Leaving was therapeutic, bro. I left everything the league wanted me to be, playing for my teammates while injured, the gladiator mentality, it all just popped. And when it popped, I just wanted to leave it all behind. So that’s why I don’t care what people say. That experience was personal and not meant for anyone else to understand. It was me cold turkey leaving behind an identity that I carried with me for so long.”

Davis, a two-time Pro Bowler, retired at age 30 after taking himself out of the game toward the end of the first half. He did not return, instead leaving the stadium.

This article will be updated to provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

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