FORMER NFL player Chris Payton-Jones has died in a horror car crash at the age of 30.

“Chris was a beloved teammate and leader in the locker room,” the UFL said in a statement. The former cornerback who played for the St. Louis Battlehawks from 2024-2025 died Saturday Night in a car accident in his hometown in Jacksonville, Florida. Chris was a standout cornerback at the University of Nebraska where he was an elite cornerback and was named All-Big Ten in 2016. He went Undrafted in 2018 but was able to play for several teams with the Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans, and Las Vegas Raiders. During his brief time in the NFL career, Chris Payton-Jones recorded 48 tackles and seven passes defended in 29 games.

Chris played for one season with the Seattle Sea Dragon before playing for the Battlehawks from 2024 to 2025, before announcing his retirement from football in January. He also launched his YouTube channel, Flashflix, focused on local sports in his hometown of Jacksonville, where frequently spotted on the sidelines at Sandalwood High School, where he emerged as a three-star prospect, during football games.

“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,” Coach Adam Geis said. “He was always unbelievably positive. I’ve never heard that kid ever say anything negative about anyone or anything. … It was always a pleasure to be around him. You were always happy to see him.”