Meet Davon Godchaux, Chanel Iman’s husband and Patriots defensive tackle: he’s overcome a sporting injury to bag an eye-watering US$21 million contract – but was once accused of domestic abuse

Feb 21 , 2025

The New England Patriots’ Davon Godchaux, husband of model Chanel Iman. Photo: @chauxdown/Instagram

The 30-year-old NFL star locked horns with Patriots executive VP Eliot Wolf about his team spirit, but his romance with Iman – complete with a private-yacht wedding – proves life’s a beach

Last year, Davon Godchaux, the New England Patriots defensive tackle, spilled the beans about how those high-stakes NFL contract negotiations really go down. After scoring a two-year extension reportedly worth up to US$21 million, Godchaux opened up, in an episode of his YouTube show, Chaux Talk, about the drama that unfolded before he sealed the deal.

Davon Godchaux’s contract extension with the New England Patriots is reportedly worth up to US$21 million. Photo: @chauxdown/Instagram

“I don’t want to be a distraction to the team, I really just want to go out there and ball,” he shared. Godchaux had skipped organised team activities to focus on his workouts, but when training camp started, he said, the Patriots’ Eliot Wolf confronted him about not practising. Godchaux explained that he wanted contract guarantees, stressing the importance of run-stoppers in the game, not just highly paid pass-rushers.

Chanel Iman and Davon Godchaux have been married since 2023. Photo: @chauxdown/Instagram

But football isn’t the only thing Godchaux, 30, is known for: he’s also married to model Chanel Iman, 34. Want to know more about the NFL star? Here’s everything we have on Davon Godchaux.

Davon Godchaux and the drive-by shooting

Davon Godchaux’s family home was targeted in a drive-by shooting in 2012. Photo: @chauxdown/Instagram

In 2012, Davon Godchaux’s life took a dramatic turn when his childhood, Louisiana home was hit in a gang-related, drive-by shooting targeting his twin brother. Returning from basketball practice, he found police and caution tape all over the scene.

“It was a rough day,” he shared with newspaper The Advocate in 2015, but the ordeal became a source of motivation. “When I get tired, I dig deep,” he said, describing how the experience fuels his determination.

His 2020 season was injury hit

Davon Godchaux played for the Miami Dolphins before transferring to the New England Patriots in 2021. Photo: @chauxdown/Instagram

After he had recorded 16 tackles, his 2020 season was cut short thanks to a torn bicep, per Boston.com. But that wasn’t his first major injury: he tore two knee ligaments during his senior year of high school and needed surgery.