A former NFL defensive back who played for several professional teams lost his life in a tragic highway accident in Florida over the weekend, authorities confirmed.
Chris Payton-Jones, age 30, was killed Saturday evening when his car crashed head-on with a pickup truck in Alachua County, according to Florida Highway Patrol officials cited by News 4 Jacksonville. The collision occurred when Payton-Jones was traveling in the wrong direction on State Road 24 near Gainesville.
The vehicle Payton-Jones was driving flipped over and caught fire following the impact. Emergency responders declared him deceased at the crash site, News 4 Jacksonville reported. The pickup truck’s three occupants suffered only minor injuries in the accident.
Originally from the Jacksonville region, Payton-Jones competed under the name Chris Jones during his college years at the University of Nebraska between 2014 and 2017. Though he wasn’t chosen in the 2018 NFL Draft, he successfully earned roster spots with multiple professional teams over the following years.
His NFL career spanned from 2018 through 2021, during which he participated in 29 regular season contests across four franchises: the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans.
Following his NFL tenure, Payton-Jones continued his football career in alternative leagues, joining the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL during 2023 before spending his final two playing seasons with the St. Louis Battlehawks in the UFL.
The United Football League released an official statement honoring the fallen player’s memory. “Chris was a beloved teammate and leader in the locker room, who demonstrated the importance of hard work, determination, and resilience throughout his career,” the organization stated. “As importantly, Chris was always a bright soul who everyone throughout the league enjoyed spending time with off-the-field.”
Payton-Jones had stepped away from professional football this past January to focus entirely on his digital media venture. His sports-focused video content through his YouTube channel Flashflix had attracted over one million total views.
