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Former NFL cornerback Chris Payton-Jones died at 30 following a car accident in Florida on April 11. He was traveling the wrong way on State Road 24 when his vehicle collided head-on with a pickup truck.
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.
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."
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.
Barret Robbins, football, 1973-2026
Matt Snell, football, 1941-2026
Troy Murray, hockey, 1962-2026
Bob Harlan, football, 1936-2026
Lou Holtz, football, 1937-2026
Dominiq Ponder, football, 2002-2026
Bruce Froemming, baseball, 1939-2026
Jeff Galloway, Olympics, 1945-2026
Rondale Moore, football, 2000-2026
Kara Braxton, basketball, 1983-2026
Bill Mazeroski, baseball, 1936-2026
Mike Wagner (right), football, 1949-2026
Doug Moe, basketball, 1938-2026
Tre Johnson, football, 1971-2026
Elroy Face, baseball, 1928-2026
Tracy Scroggins, football, 1969-2026
Barry Wilburn, football, 1963-2026
Terrance Gore, baseball, 1991-2026
Sonny Jurgensen, football, 1934-2026
John Brodie, football, 1935-2026
Kevin Johnson, football, 1970-2026
Wilbur Wood, baseball, 1941-2026
Phil Goyette, hockey, 1933-2026
Eddie McCreadie, soccer, 1940-2026
Dave Giusti, baseball, 1939-2026
Martin Chivers, soccer, 1945-2026
Billy Truax, football, 1943-2026
Jawann Oldham, basketball, 1957-2026
Robert Pulford, hockey, 1936-2026
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Barret Robbins, football, 1973-2026
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Barret Robbins, football, 1973-2026
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Matt Snell, football, 1941-2026
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Troy Murray, hockey, 1962-2026
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Bob Harlan, football, 1936-2026
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Lou Holtz, football, 1937-2026
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Dominiq Ponder, football, 2002-2026
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Bruce Froemming, baseball, 1939-2026
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Jeff Galloway, Olympics, 1945-2026
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Rondale Moore, football, 2000-2026
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Kara Braxton, basketball, 1983-2026
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Bill Mazeroski, baseball, 1936-2026
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Mike Wagner (right), football, 1949-2026
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Doug Moe, basketball, 1938-2026
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Tre Johnson, football, 1971-2026
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Elroy Face, baseball, 1928-2026
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Tracy Scroggins, football, 1969-2026
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Barry Wilburn, football, 1963-2026
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Terrance Gore, baseball, 1991-2026
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Sonny Jurgensen, football, 1934-2026
20 / 29
John Brodie, football, 1935-2026
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Kevin Johnson, football, 1970-2026
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Wilbur Wood, baseball, 1941-2026
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Phil Goyette, hockey, 1933-2026
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Eddie McCreadie, soccer, 1940-2026
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Dave Giusti, baseball, 1939-2026
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Martin Chivers, soccer, 1945-2026
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Billy Truax, football, 1943-2026
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Jawann Oldham, basketball, 1957-2026
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Robert Pulford, hockey, 1936-2026
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."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former NFL, St. Louis Battlehawks CB Chris Payton-Jones dies at 30
Chris Payton-Jones died in a car accident after traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of State Road 24, where he crashed head-on with a pickup truck.
Chris Payton-Jones passed away on April 11 at the age of 30.
The accident occurred around 11:45 p.m. ET when Payton-Jones' vehicle collided with a pickup truck, resulting in his death at the scene.
The UFL released a statement honoring Payton-Jones as a beloved teammate and leader, highlighting his hard work, determination, and positive spirit both on and off the field.

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