Former Seattle Sea Dragons and St. Louis Battlehawks player Chris Payne-Jones has sadly passed away from a car accident in Gainesville, Florida, on Saturday night.
Chris Payton-Jones is six foot and weighs 230 pounds. The 30-year-old from Jacksonville, Florida, re-signed with the Battlehawks on August 27, 2024. In 2025, he made 19 tackles (14 solos, 5 assists), two interceptions for 43 yards, and nine pass breakups in eight games. He announced his retirement on January 2, 2026.
Chris Payton-Jones signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2018. He also spent time with the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Titans. He played 29 NFL games with 48 tackles (40 solos, 8 assists) and seven pass breakups.
Next, Payton-Jones signed with the Seattle Sea Dragons on November 17, 2022. In 2023, Payton-Jones made 20 tackles (16 solos, 4 assists) and 5 pass breakups in 10 games.
The St. Louis Battlehawks drafted Payton-Hones in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. He made 37 tackles (31 solos, 6 assists), 2 tackles for loss, 5 pass breakups, and one forced fumble in 10 games for the St. Louis Battlehawks in 2024.
Collegiately, Payton-Jones played four seasons at Nebraska (2014-17) with 76 tackles (65 solos, 11 assists), 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, 5 interceptions for 60 yards, 1 touchdown, 16 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery in 54 games for the Cornhuskers.
All of us at BGMSportsTrax offer our condolences to Payton-Jones’s family, friends, teammates, and fans.
