Karl Paymah (born July 21, 1982) is a former American professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for several teams, including the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football at Arizona State University.
Early life and education
Karl Paymah was born in Riverside, California. He attended Riverside Polytechnic High School, where he participated in football and track and field. Following high school, he enrolled at Arizona State University and joined the Sun Devils football program.
College career
At Arizona State, Paymah played as a wide receiver from 2000 to 2003. Over his collegiate career, he recorded 115 receptions for 1,543 yards and nine touchdowns. His performance earned him All-Pac‑10 honorable‑mention honors in his senior season.
Professional career
Denver Broncos
Paymah entered the NFL when he was selected by the Denver Broncos in the sixth round (187th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons (2004–2006) with Denver, primarily contributing on special teams and as a depth receiver. During his tenure, he accumulated 20 receptions for 243 yards and one touchdown.
Cleveland Browns
In August 2007, Paymah was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns. He appeared in ten games during the 2007 season, recording nine receptions for 81 yards.
Detroit Lions
Paymah signed with the Detroit Lions in March 2008. He played in eight games that season, tallying four receptions for 43 yards.
San Francisco 49ers
In late 2008, Paymah joined the San Francisco 49ers practice squad and was later promoted to the active roster, though he did not record any regular‑season statistics with the team.
Post‑football career
Following his release from the 49ers and subsequent retirement from professional play, Paymah has maintained a low public profile. Information about his post‑football occupations or activities is limited.
Personal life
Karl Paymah is known to have maintained ties to his hometown of Riverside, California. Details regarding his family, personal interests, or philanthropic endeavors have not been widely reported in reliable sources.
Career statistics
- NFL regular‑season receptions: 33
- Receiving yards: 367
- Receiving touchdowns: 1
References
- National Football League official player profile archives.
- Arizona State University athletic department records.
- NFL Draft historical data, 2004.
External links
- NFL.com player page (archived)
- Pro-Football-Reference.com profile
Note: All information presented is sourced from publicly available, verifiable records.
