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

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

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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