Chris Payton-Jones, a 30-year-old former NFL cornerback and videographer, died Saturday in a automotive accident.
Payton-Jones was touring eastbound within the westbound lanes of Florida’s State Street 24 when his automotive collided with a pick-up truck, in response to USA Immediately, which cited First Coast Information. Payton-Jones’ automobile was reportedly engulfed in flames, and he was pronounced useless on the scene.
Payton-Jones performed faculty soccer for the College of Nebraska and went on to play for a number of NFL groups, together with the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans. He most not too long ago performed for the St. Louis Battlehawks within the United Soccer League previous to retiring from the game this previous January.
The Jacksonville native was additionally identified for his videography. He constructed the YouTube channel, Flashflix, which targeted on sports activities content material. He described his movies as “bringing the cinematic vibes to YouTube,” and his efforts garnered greater than 1.3 million views. Payton-Jones was additionally identified for mentoring youthful videographers.
“Chris was a beloved teammate and chief within the locker room, who demonstrated the significance of exhausting work, dedication, and resilience all through his profession,” the UFL stated in an announcement. “As importantly, Chris was at all times a vivid soul who everybody all through the league loved spending time with off-the-field throughout his three-year tenure.”
“I’ve skilled him and labored with him,” James Coleman, a former fullback at Florida State, instructed News4JAX. “I’ve by no means been round a extra real man who has a giant coronary heart for teenagers on this group. Only a optimistic function mannequin in motion, not selection.”