LAMAMIMET

Chris Payton-Jones was born on August 13, 1995, and played college football as a cornerback for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, where he started 26 games and earned All‑Big Ten honorable mention as a junior. After graduating, he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent, signing with the Detroit Lions in 2018 before joining the Arizona Cardinals, where he made his debut and recorded his first start. He later spent brief periods with the Lions again, the Minnesota Vikings, the Tennessee Titans, and the Las Vegas Raiders, and continued his professional career in the XFL and United Football League with teams such as the Seattle Sea Dragons and St. Louis Battlehawks.

Throughout his career, Payton-Jones was valued for his versatility in the secondary and his ability to contribute on special teams. He moved frequently between practice squads and active rosters, earning playing time in several regular‑season games and starting for the Cardinals in 2019.

After announcing his retirement in January 2026, Payton-Jones returned to his hometown in Florida. He died tragically in a car crash in Gainesville on April 12, 2026, at the age of 30.