Bills CB Vontae Davis Retires After Leaving at Halftime vs. Chargers

Davis reportedly put on his street clothes at halftime, said he was quitting and then left the stadium.

Bills cornerback Vontae Davis retired after leaving during halftime of his team's 31–20 loss to the Chargers on Sunday, the league announced. 

Davis started the game, but he wasn't spotted on the field or sidelines after the second half.

Buffalo coach Sean McDermott confirmed that Davis stopped playing.

"He pulled himself out of the game. He told us he was done," McDermott said.

In a statement, Davis explained his side of the story:

"This isn't how I pictured retring from the NFL.

But in my 10th NFL season, I have been doing what my body has been programmed to do: Get ready to play on game day. I've endured multiple surgeries and played through many different injuries throughout my career and, over the last few weeks, this was the latest physical challenge.

But today on the field, reality hit me fast and hard: I shouldn't be out there anymore.

I meant no disrespect to my teammates and coaches. But I hold myself to a standard. Mentally, I always expect myself to play at a high level. But physically, I know today that isn't possible, and I had an honest moment with myself. While I was on the field, I just didn't feel right, and I told the coaches, 'I'm not feeling like myself.'

I also wondered: Do I want to keep sacrificing?

And truthfully, I do not because the season is long, and it's more important for me and my family to walk away healthy than to willfully embrace the warrior mentality and limp away too late.

This was an overwhelming decision, but I'm at peace with myself and my family. I choose to be grateful to God for allowing me to play the game that I have loved as a boy until I turned 30 years old. I choose to be grateful to God for being a part of the NFL and making lifelong friends over the last decade. There were roadblocks and pitfalls along the way, but I am grateful to God for all of it because he doesn't promise any of us an easy journey.

Lastly, I am grateful to God for what he has in store for me ahead, in this next chapter of my life."

Following the game, Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said he had never seen anything like it before.

"It's just completely disrespectful to his teammates," Alexander said.

According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Davis put on his street clothes at halftime, said he was quitting and then left the stadium.

The 30-year-old Davis signed with Buffalo this offseason but was inactive for Week 1. He had played with the Colts since 2012. Davis was drafted by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft.