Chris Payton-Jones, a 30-year-old former NFL cornerback and videographer, died Saturday in a car accident.
Payton-Jones was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes of Florida’s State Road 24 when his car collided with a pick-up truck, according to USA Today, which cited First Coast News. Payton-Jones’ vehicle was reportedly engulfed in flames, and he was pronounced dead on the scene.
Payton-Jones played college football for the University of Nebraska and went on to play for multiple NFL teams, including the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans. He most recently played for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the United Football League prior to retiring from the sport this past January.
The Jacksonville native was also known for his videography. He built the YouTube channel, Flashflix, which focused on sports content. He described his videos as “bringing the cinematic vibes to YouTube,” and his efforts garnered more than 1.3 million views. Payton-Jones was also known for mentoring younger videographers.
“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 UFL said in a statement. “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.”
“I’ve trained him and worked with him,” James Coleman, a former fullback at Florida State, told News4JAX. “I’ve never been around a more genuine guy who has a big heart for kids in this community. Just a positive role model in action, not choice.”
