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Chris Payton-Jones, former Nebraska, NFL cornerback, dies at 30

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Former NFL and UFL cornerback Chris Payton-Jones died on April 11 at the age of 30.

Payton-Jones was involved in a car accident on Saturday night at around 11:45 p.m. ET, according to Florida Highway Patrol. First Coast News reported that the player was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of State Road 24 when his vehicle crashed head-on with a pickup truck.

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Payton-Jones was pronounced dead at the scene. The pickup truck overturned, with the driver and his two passengers suffering minor injuries.

“Chris was a beloved teammate and leader in the locker room, who demonstrated the importance of hard work, determination, and resilience throughout his career,” a statement from the UFL read in part. “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.”

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Payton-Jones spent his four-year collegiate career with Nebraska and was undrafted in 2018. The Jacksonville native signed with the Detroit Lions and was released as part of the team’s roster cutdowns. He landed with the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad, appearing in two games during his rookie year.

The cornerback played 29 games in four NFL seasons, making appearances with the Cardinals, Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans. He later went on to play for the Seattle Sea Dragons in the XFL before the league merged with the USFL to create the UFL.

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Payton-Jones joined the St. Louis Battlehawks during the league’s dispersal draft in 2024. He announced his retirement in January 2026.

Off the field, the cornerback was building his brand, Flashflix, where he described himself as a, “Videographer in Jax, FL bringing the cinematic vibes to YouTube.”

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former NFL, St. Louis Battlehawks CB Chris Payton-Jones dies at 30

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