On Monday, former Dallas Renegades punter Marquette King Jr. officially declared his retirement from professional football through his X account. The 37-year-old athlete from Macon, Georgia, shared that despite his persistent efforts to return to the NFL, he has decided to end his pursuit on his own terms.
King Reflects on His Efforts to Return to the NFL
King candidly addressed the challenges he faced in regaining a spot in the NFL, stating,
“I’ve battled to break back into the NFL, but if the league’s gatekeepers want to block me out, I’ll shut that door myself, because the ultimate goal was to make it back into the NFL. I don’t beg and This is me calling it on my terms. I’m thankful for the opportunity to have…”
— Marquette King (@MarquetteKing) February 9, 2026
Career Highlights and Recent Performance
Standing six feet tall and weighing 192 pounds, King returned to the Arlington Renegades by re-signing with the team on October 25, 2024. During the 2025 season, he punted 36 times for a total of 1,709 yards, averaging 47.5 yards per punt. His longest punt reached 69 yards, with eight punts landing inside the 20-yard line and five resulting in touchbacks over 10 games.
Oakland Raiders and Early NFL Years
Undrafted in the 2012 NFL Draft, King signed with the Oakland Raiders on April 29, 2012, where he spent five seasons as their primary punter. Over 80 games, he punted 426 times for 19,941 yards, averaging 46.8 yards per punt, including a long of 72 yards. His tenure also featured 33 touchbacks and 156 punts inside the 20-yard line, alongside minimal rushing and kickoff duties.
Brief Stint with Denver Broncos
The Raiders released King on March 30, 2018, and shortly after, he signed with the Denver Broncos on April 6, 2018. He played in four games, punting 20 times for 881 yards with an average of 44.1 yards per punt. His longest punt was 66 yards, and he managed seven punts placed inside the 20-yard line before the Broncos released him in November of that year.
XFL Experience and Success with the Renegades
King’s career continued in the XFL when the St. Louis Battlehawks selected him in the 2020 Supplemental Draft. Across five games, he recorded 19 punts for 868 yards, averaging 45.7 yards, before the league suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, in the 2023 XFL Draft, the Arlington Renegades picked King in the third round. His performance that year included 40 punts for 1,858 yards (46.4 average) with a long punt of 70 yards, contributing to the Renegades’ championship victory over the D.C. Defenders.
2024 Season and Accolades
The Renegades brought King back on January 29, 2024. In the subsequent season, he punted 28 times for 1,358 yards, boasting an impressive 48.5-yard average with a longest punt of 63 yards. King delivered four touchbacks, placed 11 punts inside the 20-yard line, and even executed one kickoff for 63 yards in his 10 games. His outstanding performance earned him a spot on the All-UFL Team in 2024.
College Career at Fort Valley State University
Before his professional career, King played for Fort Valley State from 2008 to 2011. During his collegiate tenure, he punted 114 times for 4,726 yards, averaging 41.5 yards per punt with a career-long 80-yard kick. He placed 38 punts inside the 20-yard line across 21 games and achieved First Team All-SIAC honors in 2011.
The Significance of King’s Retirement
Marquette King’s retirement marks the close of a determined journey defined by perseverance and perseverance against barriers in professional football. His career spans multiple leagues and notable achievements, reflecting his resilience both on and off the field. As King steps away from the game, his legacy includes not only his on-field accomplishments but also his unwavering resolve in confronting challenges imposed by NFL gatekeepers.
I’ve battled to break back into the NFL, but if the league’s gatekeepers want to block me out, I’ll shut that door myself, because the ultimate goal was to make it back into the NFL. I don’t beg and This is me calling it on my terms. I’m thankful for the opportunity to have…
— Marquette King (@MarquetteKing) February 9, 2026
