// Workers AI · dad joke modeWho's Chris Payton-Jones? Payton to meet him, Jones-ing for a chat.
Payton-Jones with the Tennessee Titans | |||||||
| No. 3, 5, 25, 41, 26, 23, 36 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Cornerback | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born | August 13, 1995 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. | ||||||
| Died | April 11, 2026 (aged 30) Gainesville, Florida, U.S. | ||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school | Sandalwood (Jacksonville) | ||||||
| College | Nebraska (2014–2017) | ||||||
| NFL draft | 2018 (undrafted) | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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* Offseason or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Chris Payton-Jones (August 13, 1995 – April 11, 2026) was an American professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) and United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
College career
[edit]Payton-Jones started 26 games for the Cornhuskers over the course of four seasons at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. As a junior, he had 3 interceptions, 10 pass breakups, and 37 tackles (including three for loss), and one sack and was named All-Big Ten honorable mention. Payton-Jones missed the first half of his senior season due to a knee injury, but returned to the field to start the Cornhuskers' last six games.[1][2]
College statistics
[edit]| Year | Team | G | GS | Tackles | Interceptions | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Ast | Tot | Sacks | Sacks-Yards | Int | PD | FF | FR | ||||
| 2014 | Nebraska | 6 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2015 | Nebraska | 13 | 7 | 21 | 4 | 25 | 1 | 1–0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | Nebraska | 13 | 13 | 33 | 4 | 37 | 1 | 1–0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | Nebraska | 5 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Professional career
[edit]| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Wingspan | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11+7⁄8 in (1.83 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 32+3⁄4 in (0.83 m) | 9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) | 6 ft 6+1⁄4 in (1.99 m) | 4.53 s | 1.57 s | 2.65 s | 4.28 s | 6.96 s | 34.5 in (0.88 m) | 10 ft 1 in (3.07 m) | 14 reps |
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[3] | ||||||||||||
Detroit Lions (first stint)
[edit]Payton-Jones signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2018.[4] Payton-Jones failed to make the Lions' 53-man roster at the end of training camp and was waived by the team on September 1.[5]
Arizona Cardinals
[edit]On September 3, 2018, Payton-Jones was signed to the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad.[6] Payton-Jones was promoted to the Cardinals' active roster on November 20,[7] and made his NFL debut on November 25, against the Los Angeles Chargers.[8] He was waived on November 27, and re-signed to the team's practice squad two days later.[9][10] Payton-Jones was promoted to the active roster on December 18.[11]
Payton-Jones made his first career start on September 22, 2019, against the Carolina Panthers.[12] Payton-Jones was waived by the Cardinals on October 9, and was re-signed to the team's practice squad.[13] On November 8, Payton-Jones was again promoted to the active roster.[14]
On September 5, 2020, Payton-Jones was waived during the final roster cuts.[15] He was re-signed to the practice squad a day later.[16]
Detroit Lions (second stint)
[edit]On September 16, 2020, Payton-Jones was signed by the Detroit Lions off the Cardinals practice squad.[17] He was waived by the Lions on October 17.[18] Payton-Jones was re-signed by the team on October 21,[19] but was waived again on October 24.[20]
Minnesota Vikings
[edit]Payton-Jones was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Vikings on October 26, 2020.[21]
Tennessee Titans
[edit]
Payton-Jones signed with the Tennessee Titans on April 23, 2021.[22] He was released on September 6, and was re-signed to the team's practice squad.[23][24] Payton-Jones was promoted to the active roster on November 10.[25] He was waived by Tennessee on January 4, 2022, and was re-signed to the practice squad.[26]
Las Vegas Raiders
[edit]Payton-Jones signed as a free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders on June 13, 2022.[27] He was released by the Raiders on August 23.[28]
Seattle Sea Dragons
[edit]On November 17, 2022, Payton-Jones was drafted by the Seattle Sea Dragons of the XFL.[29] The Sea Dragons folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).[30]
St. Louis Battlehawks
[edit]On January 5, 2024, Payton-Jones was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks during the 2024 UFL dispersal draft.[31] He signed with the team on January 29.[32] Payton-Jones re-signed with the team on August 26.[33] He was placed on injured reserve on May 20, 2025.[34]
Payton-Jones announced his retirement from pro football in January 2026.[35]
Death
[edit]On April 11, 2026, Payton-Jones died in a car crash in Gainesville, Florida.[36] He was 30 years old.[37]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "Arizona Cardinals promote former Husker Chris Jones to active roster". Omaha.com. Omaha World-Herald. November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
- ↑ "Chris Jones - Football 2017". University of Nebraska - Official Athletics Website. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
- ↑ "Chris Jones College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
- ↑ Meinke, Kyle (April 28, 2018). "UDFA tracker: Lions sign wave of defensive backs after draft". MLive.com. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ↑ Reisman, Jeremy; Platt, Kent Lee (September 1, 2018). "NFL roster cuts: Detroit Lions waive cornerback Chris Jones". PrideOfDetroit.com. SB Nation. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
- ↑ Fitzgerald, Katherine (September 3, 2018). "With roster set, Cardinals begin preparing for season opener against Washington". The Arizona Republic. USA Today Network. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
- ↑ Williams, Charean (November 20, 2018). "Cardinals sign David Amerson, promote Chris Jones, Jalen Tolliver". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
- ↑ Horn, Christian (November 25, 2018). "Former Huskers making big contributions in NFL this season". The Daily Nebraskan. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
- ↑ Odegard, Kyle (November 27, 2018). "Cardinals Sign Cornerbacks Dontae Johnson and Quinten Rollins". AZCardinals.com.
- ↑ Urban, Darren (November 29, 2018). "Cardinals Bring Back Offensive Lineman Will Holden". AZCardinals.com. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
- ↑ Urban, Darren (December 18, 2018). "Cardinals Make More Moves At Cornerback". AZCardinals.com.
- ↑ "Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals - September 22nd, 2019-Snap counts". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
- ↑ Williams, Charean (October 9, 2019). "Cardinals cut cornerback Chris Jones". Profootballtalk.com.
- ↑ Urban, Darren (November 8, 2019). "Cardinals Put Brooks Reed On IR, Promote Two From Practice Squad". azcardinals.com.
- ↑ Urban, Darren (September 5, 2020). "Cardinals Make Final Cuts To Get To Initial 53-Man Roster". azcardinals.com.
- ↑ Urban, Darren (September 6, 2020). "Cardinals Build Practice Squad, Including Weaver, Foster". azcardinals.com.
- ↑ Schlitt, Erik (September 16, 2020). "Lions signed CB Chris Jones to the active roster". Lions Wire. USA Today. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
- ↑ "Lions activate Joe Dahl from IR, promote David Blough from practice squad". Pride of Detroit. SB Nation. October 17, 2020.
- ↑ Alper, Josh (October 21, 2020). "Lions put Julian Okwara on IR, sign DB Chris Jones". NBCSports.com. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ↑ Schlitt, Erik (October 24, 2020). "Detroit Lions activate Bo Scarbrough and Mike Ford from IR, release Chris Jones and Kenny Wiggins". USAToday.com. Retrieved November 1, 2020.
- ↑ "Vikings Announce Roster Moves". Vikings.com. Minnesota Vikings. October 26, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
- ↑ Wyatt, Jim (April 23, 2021). "Titans Add Four Players to Roster". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ↑ Wyatt, Jim (September 6, 2021). "Titans Activate TE Geoff Swaim from Reserve/COVID-19 List, Waive DB Chris Jones, LB Justin March-Lillard". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ Wyatt, Jim (September 7, 2021). "Titans Make Several Roster Moves On Roster, and Practice Squad". TennesseeTitans.com. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
- ↑ Wyatt, Jim (November 10, 2021). "Titans Move CB Kristian Fulton to the Team's "Designated for Return From Injured Reserve" List". TennesseeTitans.com.
- ↑ Wyatt, Jim (January 4, 2022). "Titans Release DB Chris Jones and LB Joe Jones From the Active Roster, Along With Three Players From the Practice Squad, Including WR Golden Tate". TennesseeTitans.com.
- ↑ "Raiders sign CB Chris Jones". Raiders.com. June 13, 2022. Retrieved June 13, 2022.
- ↑ "Raiders trim roster to 80-player limit". Raiders.com. August 23, 2022. Retrieved August 23, 2022.
- ↑ "Rosters for all eight XFL teams: Full draft results and where Vic Beasley, Martavis Bryant landed". ESPN.com. November 18, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
- ↑ Seifert, Kevin (January 1, 2024). "Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
- ↑ Larsen, James [@JamesLarsenPFN] (January 5, 2024). "Breaking: DB Chris Payton-Jones announced that he was selected by the St. Louis Battlehawks in the #XFL Dispersal Draft yesterday" (Tweet). Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ↑ @UFL_PR (January 29, 2024). "The United Football League has announced the following transactions" (Tweet). Retrieved January 29, 2024 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ↑ @UFL_PR (August 26, 2024). "The #UFL has announced the following transactions" (Tweet). Retrieved August 27, 2024 – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ↑ Larsen, James (May 21, 2025). "Battlehawks Lose Defensive Standouts, Stallions Cut Corners". PFNewsroom.com. Retrieved May 23, 2025.
- ↑ Brinkerhoff, Nick; read, USA TODAY·2 min (April 13, 2026). "Chris Payton-Jones, former Nebraska, NFL cornerback, dies at 30". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ↑ "MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved April 13, 2026.
- ↑ Barney, Justin (April 12, 2026). "'One of my all-time favorites': Friends, coaches recall impact of Chris Payton-Jones". WJXT. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
- 1995 births
- 2026 deaths
- Sandalwood High School alumni
- Players of American football from Jacksonville, Florida
- American football cornerbacks
- Nebraska Cornhuskers football players
- Arizona Cardinals players
- Detroit Lions players
- Minnesota Vikings players
- Tennessee Titans players
- Las Vegas Raiders players
- Seattle Sea Dragons players
- St. Louis Battlehawks players
- Road incident deaths in Florida