Buffalo Bills cornerback Vontae Davis has shocked the NFL world by ending his career midway through a game.
The Bills were coming off a 47-3 thumping by the Baltimore Ravens in the opening week and things weren't going any better against the Los Angeles Chargers, down 28-6 at half-time.
That’s when Davis told teammates he was calling it quits, sending shockwaves through the Bills locker room.
He then reportedly drove home and wasn't out on the side-lines for the second half of the match.
His departure left players stunned and lost for words.
Davis was in his first season with the Bills after signing a one-year USD$5 million (NZD$ 7.4 million) deal in the off-season in February.
Davis made his Bills' debut against the Chargers after being inactive against Baltimore the previous week.
After the game, the 30-year-old released a statement confirming his retirement.
"This isn't how I pictured retiring from the NFL," the statement read. "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."
Bills linebacker Lorenzo Alexander called the move "completely disrespectful".
"Never had seen it ever," Alexander said, after the match. "Pop Warner, high school, college, pros.
"Never heard of it, never seen it and it's just completely disrespectful to his teammates.
"He didn't say nothing to nobody. You know as much as I know, I found out going into the second half of the game.
"Coming out [they] said he's not coming out, he's retired."
Safety Rafael Bush shared similar thoughts.
"We're a family. You don't turn your back on your brothers in the heat of battle like that," he said.
"Like Lorenzo said, it's disrespectful to leave us like that when we're already down a man and down to just two corners."
The Bills put up a better performance in the second half, but still lost 31-20.
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