Divers recover body of NFL player two days after he fell out of a rented boat in front of his devastated wife and young daughters

  • JaJuan Dawson, 37, fell overboard in Lavon Lake, Dallas, on Sunday
  • Former NFL receiver wasn't wearing a life jacket, likely couldn't swim
  • He was on a rented boat with his two daughters, wife, and friends
  • Dawson was a receiver for the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans

The body of a former Houston Texans receiver has been found in a river two days after he fell out of a rented boat during a family outing in Dallas.

JaJuan Dawson, 37, was not wearing a life jacket when he fell overboard on Sunday at 6.30pm as his two daughters, wife and three friends looked on in horror.

Family members say they do not think he knew how to swim.

Divers located his body at around 11.30pm CDT on Monday in Lavon Lake, near Wylie, NBC reported.

An autopsy is due to be carried out on Tuesday though investigators believe it is Dawson.

Tragic: Divers have found the body of former NFL receiver JaJuan Dawson, 37, who went missing after falling out of a rented boat during a family outing on Lavon Lake, outside Dallas, on Sunday night

Tragic: Divers have found the body of former NFL receiver JaJuan Dawson, 37, who went missing after falling out of a rented boat during a family outing on Lavon Lake, outside Dallas, on Sunday night

Dawson, pictured with his wife Jamie Dawson, was on the boat with Jamie, his two daughters and friends

Dawson, pictured with his wife Jamie Dawson, was on the boat with Jamie, his two daughters and friends

The Collin County Sheriff's Office said Dawson wasn't wearing a lifejacket when he fell off the rented boat

The Collin County Sheriff's Office said Dawson wasn't wearing a lifejacket when he fell off the rented boat

Dawson's wife, two daughters and one other adult and child were on the boat when he went overboard, according to NBC-Dallas Fort Worth

Boat and dive crews searched Lavon Lake, in areas that were deeper than 20 feet until 10pm on Sunday and returned to the waters on Monday in hopes of finding the former football player, KHOU reported.

A rescue team of divers has been searching the waters of Lavon Lake since Sunday evening, but Dawson has yet to be found

A rescue team of divers has been searching the waters of Lavon Lake since Sunday evening, but Dawson has yet to be found

The boat that he fell from is parked in a docking area on the lake, surrounded by yellow tape

The boat that he fell from is parked in a docking area on the lake, surrounded by yellow tape

Dawson was a 6-foot-1, 197lb receiver from Houston's Bourgeois High School by way of Tulane who went on to a three-year NFL career. 

He spent the 2000 and 2001 seasons with the Cleveland Browns and 2002 with the Houston Texans. 

He had 52 catches for 664 yards and two touchdowns in his pro career.

His career was hindered, however, by a series of injuries, including a broken collar bone. He was released from the professional league in 2004 after training with the New York Giants. 

He played in the NFL as a receiver for three years. In his last year, 2002, he played for the Houston Texans

He played in the NFL as a receiver for three years. In his last year, 2002, he played for the Houston Texans

Prior to joining the Texans, Dawson played for the Cincinnati Browns in 2000 and 2001. His career was hindered by a series of injuries, including a broken collar bone

Prior to joining the Texans, Dawson played for the Cincinnati Browns in 2000 and 2001. His career was hindered by a series of injuries, including a broken collar bone

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