Ashtyn Davis Bio
Ashtyn Davis (born October 10, 1996) is an American professional football safety for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the California Golden Bears, where he was also a hurdler, and was selected by the New York Jets in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing 205 pounds, Davis has built his professional reputation on hard-hitting run support, ball production in coverage, and special teams value.
After spending his first five NFL seasons with the New York Jets, Davis joined the Miami Dolphins in 2025 on a one-year contract. Throughout his career he has also drawn recognition for his track background, having been an All-American hurdler during his senior year at the University of California, Berkeley.
Early Life and Background
Ashtyn Davis grew up in Santa Cruz, California, and attended Santa Cruz High School, where he played wide receiver for the football team. He joined the school’s track team at the recommendation of his high school quarterback, who believed the extra speed work would help Davis become a faster football player.
Davis was only lightly recruited as a football prospect during his high school years. Late in his senior year, however, college track coaches began reaching out after he posted a strong time in the 110-meter hurdles at a county meet, despite never having competed in the event before. That dual-sport breakout eventually opened the door to both a football scholarship and a track scholarship at the University of California, Berkeley.
Path to American Football
At the University of California, Berkeley, Ashtyn Davis originally joined the track and field team as a walk-on before joining the Golden Bears football team following a tryout in the spring of his freshman year. He redshirted his initial season on the gridiron and gradually climbed the depth chart.
By the second half of his redshirt sophomore year, Davis had worked his way up to become a starting safety alongside Jaylinn Hawkins. As a redshirt junior in 2018, he recorded 56 tackles, five passes broken up, and four interceptions, while also returning 24 kicks for 629 yards and a touchdown, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors. During his senior year he was named a finalist for the Burlsworth Trophy and entered the 2020 NFL Draft regarded as one of the top safety prospects in the class.
Ashtyn Davis Career
Early Career (2020)
The New York Jets selected Ashtyn Davis in the third round, 68th overall, of the 2020 NFL Draft. The pick had previously been acquired in a trade that sent defensive lineman Leonard Williams to the New York Giants. Davis was the sixth safety drafted in 2020 and the first of two Cal safeties taken, alongside Jaylinn Hawkins.
On July 24, 2020, Davis signed a four-year, $4.91 million rookie contract that included a $1.36 million signing bonus. He entered training camp slated to be the starting nickelback and primary backup safety before the Jets traded Jamal Adams to the Seattle Seahawks, opening the door to a larger role. Davis made his regular season debut on September 13, 2020, against the Buffalo Bills, and finished his rookie year appearing in 10 games with five starts before a foot injury sent him to injured reserve in December.
New York Jets Breakthrough (2021–2024)
Davis reclaimed a starting role during the 2021 season under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich, ultimately starting 10 games and recording 62 combined tackles, three pass deflections, two interceptions, and half a sack. He notched his first career interception on December 19, 2021, picking off a pass from Tua Tagovailoa during a loss to the Miami Dolphins.
The 2023 season marked Davis’s most productive year as a playmaker. Working as a backup safety behind Tony Adams and Jordan Whitehead, he appeared in 17 games with five starts and finished with 37 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. He returned one of those interceptions for a career-long 51 yards against the Buffalo Bills and added a key late-season interception off Bailey Zappe in a Week 18 victory at the New England Patriots, earning an overall grade of 74.7 from Pro Football Focus.
After signing a one-year, $2.74 million contract on April 14, 2024, Davis remained in a backup role as the Jets opened both safety spots to competition. He started only one game all year, on January 5, 2025, against the Miami Dolphins, when he tied a season high with nine combined tackles and recorded a career-best two interceptions off Tyler Huntley. He closed his Jets tenure with 35 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and two interceptions in 15 games and one start.
Miami Dolphins Era (2025–Present)
On March 13, 2025, Ashtyn Davis signed with the Miami Dolphins on a one-year contract worth $3 million. The move gave Miami a veteran defender with starting experience and a track record of producing takeaways when given extended snaps.
Davis joined a Dolphins secondary that valued his versatility as a safety and core special teams contributor. Throughout the 2025 season he continued in a rotational safety role while contributing on coverage units, building on the ball-hawking form that defined his late career with the Jets. Through Week 15 of the 2025 season, his career totals included 226 combined tackles, 8 interceptions, 17 pass deflections, 4 forced fumbles, and 4 fumble recoveries.
Driving Style and Strengths
Davis is best known for his downhill tackling, reliable open-field pursuit, and competitive special teams play. His track background shows up in his range as a deep-half safety, while his willingness to support the run and attack the line of scrimmage has made him a favorite of coaches who value physicality in the box.
Notable Events and Milestones
Davis’s most memorable moments include his first career interception against the Miami Dolphins in 2021, his 51-yard pick-six of Josh Allen during the 2023 season, and his two-interception performance against the Dolphins on January 5, 2025. His signing with the Miami Dolphins in March 2025 marked his first free-agent move and a fresh start after five seasons in New York.
Ashtyn Davis Career Wins
Ashtyn Davis has notched eight career interceptions through Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season, including a career-high two-interception game against the Miami Dolphins in the 2024 season finale. He has also recovered four fumbles and forced four more over the course of his professional career, complementing his 226 combined tackles and 17 pass deflections.
New York Jets Highlights
Davis recorded six of his career interceptions while with the New York Jets, spread across the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons. His first pick came against the Miami Dolphins in December 2021, while his most dramatic Jets moment came on January 5, 2025, when his two interceptions off Tyler Huntley helped seal a 20–32 victory over Miami. He also chipped in 37 tackles, three fumble recoveries, and eight pass deflections during his most productive Jets season in 2023.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond his NFL production, Davis earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors in 2018 and second-team All-Pac-12 recognition in 2019 at California. He won the Pac-12 110-meter hurdles title as a senior, was named a second-team All-American outdoors, and earned NCAA Indoor All-American honors in the 60-meter hurdles, showcasing rare two-sport credentials for a top NFL Draft safety.
Ashtyn Davis Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Ashtyn Davis grew up in Santa Cruz, California, where he attended Santa Cruz High School and developed into both a football player and a track athlete. He credits his high school quarterback with steering him toward sprint and hurdle work, a recommendation that ultimately shaped his athletic identity.
Personal Life
Davis has generally kept his personal life out of the public eye. He remains focused on his NFL career with the Miami Dolphins and continues to train both as a safety and as a hurdler, an unusual combination that has defined his athletic journey from Santa Cruz to the professional ranks.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represents Ashtyn Davis’s first year with the Miami Dolphins after signing a one-year, $3 million contract in March. Working in a rotational safety role, Davis has continued to provide hard-hitting run support and ball-hawking instincts in coverage, while serving as a core contributor on special teams.
Through Week 15 of the 2025 NFL season, Davis added to his career production in interceptions, pass deflections, and tackles, building on the momentum of his two-interception finale with the Jets in January 2025. His willingness to play any role asked of him has made him a dependable piece of the Dolphins’ secondary depth chart.
With the Dolphins competing in the AFC playoff picture, Davis’s combination of experience, special teams value, and big-play potential gives Miami a versatile veteran capable of stepping into a starting role if injuries strike. His 2025 campaign is also serving as an audition for a longer-term contract, as he looks to extend his NFL career beyond this season.