Chris Payton-Jones, a 30-year-old former NFL cornerback and videographer, died in a car accident on Saturday.
Payton-Jones was driving eastbound in the westbound lanes of Florida’s State Road 24 when his car collided with a pickup truck. according to USA Todaywho quoted First coastal news. Payton-Jones’ vehicle reportedly burst into flames and he was pronounced dead at 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 retired from the sport last January.
The Jacksonville native was also known for his videography. He built the YouTube channel, Flash flashwhich focused on sports content. He described his videos as “bringing the cinematic vibe to YouTube”, and his efforts have been viewed more than 1.3 million times. Payton-Jones was also famous for mentoring younger videographers.
“Chris was a beloved teammate and locker room leader who demonstrated the importance of hard work, determination and resilience throughout his career,” UFL said in a statement. “That is just as important Chris was always a bright soul who everyone in the league enjoyed spending time with off the field during his three-year tenure.
“I trained him and worked with him,” James Coleman, a former fullback at Florida State, said told News4JAX. “I have never been around a more genuine man with a big heart for children in this community. Just a positive role model in action, no choice.”
