Former NFL player Chris Payton-Jones died in a car crash in Florida. He was 30 years old.
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According to Action News Jax, the crash occurred on Saturday in Alachua County, Florida. The Florida Highway Patrol reports that Payton-Jones was allegedly traveling the wrong direction when he hit a pickup truck driven by a 21-year-old.
The former NFL player's car caught on fire, and he died at the scene. The driver of the pickup and two passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident, which remains under investigation.
Payton-Jones, a former cornerback for Nebraska, made his NFL debut during the 2018 season. He appeared in two games for the Arizona Cardinals. He returned to the team in 2019 and expanded his schedule. He played in 11 games while starting three, and he posted 22 tackles.
He split the 2020 season between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings while tallying 19 tackles. He spent his final season in the NFL (2021) with the Tennessee Titans. He added another seven tackles to his total.
Payton-Jones remained in football after his tenure with the Titans ended. He moved to the XFL and UFL (United Football League) before ultimately shifting his focus to content creation.
He spent the 2023 season in the XFL with the Seattle Sea Dragons. The team finished second in the North standings. He then spent the 2024 season in the UFL with the St. Louis Battlehawks. He posted 31 solo tackles and five pass breakups, both of which put him in a tie for second on the team.
"The United Football League is in mourning after the tragic passing of former St. Louis Battlehawks defensive back Chris Payton-Jones," the UFL said in a statement. "Chris was a beloved teammate and leader in the locker room, who demonstrated the importance of hard work, determination, and resilience throughout his career.
"As importantly, Chris was always a bright soul who everyone throughout the league enjoyed spending time with off-the-field during his three-year tenure.
"From fan appearances and media engagements to his own content creation and openness to share the highs and lows of his personal journey, Chris carried himself with humility and integrity. Our condolences are with his family, friends, teammates, and all others who are impacted by this loss."
