Tributes as ex NFL player Chris Payton-Jones killed in car crash aged 30: ‘Everybody loved him’
Chris Payton-Jones was described as a ‘beloved teammate’ and an ‘even greater man’ in a statement from the United Football League
Tributes have been paid to former NFL player Chris Payton-Jones after the 30 year-old killed in a car crash. Payton-Jones died in Alachua County, Florida , when his sedan collided with a pickup truck on State Road 24 Saturday. The football player’s vehicle was engulfed in flames following the head-on collision, the Florida Highway Patrol told Action News Jax .
Payton-Jones, a former cornerback who also played in the United Football League, was pronounced dead at the scene, the FHP said. In a tribute posted on X , the UFL described Payton-Jones as a “beloved teammate” and an “even greater man. ” Chris Payton-Jones, a former NFL player, was killed in a car crash on Saturday in Florida (ESPN) “Chris was a beloved teammate and leader in the locker room, who demonstrated the importance of hard work, determination, and resilience throughout his career,” the tribute read.
The post continued: “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. ” Payton-Jones played with the St. Louis Battlehawks in the UFL before announcing his retirement in January.
The Florida-born football player had first made his NFL debut in November 2018, while playing for the Arizona Cardinals . Payton-Jones played 29 games in the NFL until 2021. During his NFL career, he signed with the Detroit Lions , Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans and the Las Vegas Raiders.