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Former NFL player Chris Payton-Jones has died at the age of 30 following a car accident in Florida.
Payton-Jones was driving a sedan when it collided head-on with a pickup truck in Alachua County on Saturday night, April 11, according to News4Jax. He was the only person killed in the crash. The three occupants of the pickup truck sustained minor injuries. His family has confirmed his death.
Payton-Jones spent time with several NFL teams, including the Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, and Las Vegas Raiders, appearing in 29 games over six seasons. He recorded 48 tackles and seven passes defended during his professional career.
The 6-foot, 230-pound defensive back from Nebraska last played in the United Football League (UFL) in 2024 with the Seattle Sea Dragons, after previously spending the 2022 season in the XFL.
Following news of his passing, former coaches and teammates described Payton-Jones as a dedicated athlete and positive influence both on and off the field.
Sandalwood High School coach Adam Geis, who coached him as a three-star cornerback prospect in 2014, recalled his strong work ethic and attitude.
“He was one of my all-time favorites. The kid never missed a workout, never missed practice, and never wanted to come off the field. Everyone loved him,” Geis said, according to News4Jax.
“He was always unbelievably positive. I’ve never heard him say anything negative about anyone or anything. It was always a pleasure to be around him.”
Another high school coach, Patrick Clark, also paid tribute, calling him the “hardest working human being I’ve ever been around.”
“A great player but even better person. He was never the biggest or fastest, but he did things the right way, and the game paid him back for it,” Clark said.
Clark added that Payton-Jones had been transitioning toward a career in media and youth athlete development, and was expected to make an impact off the field as well.
