Kevin King Bio
Kevin Charles King is an American professional football cornerback who has played in the National Football League since 2017. Born on May 5, 1995, in Oakland, California, King first made his mark as a multi-year starter for the Washington Huskies before being selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft. After spending his first five professional seasons with the Green Bay Packers, he signed with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, a move that underscored his determination to extend his career after a series of injury setbacks.
Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and listed at around 200 pounds, King is one of the taller cornerbacks of his era, a physical profile that drew early praise from scouts and coaches. He is widely regarded as a player whose career has been shaped as much by resilience as by raw athletic ability, having returned to the field multiple times following shoulder, hamstring, and Achilles injuries.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Charles King grew up in Oakland, California, and attended Bishop O’Dowd High School, where he emerged as one of the most decorated local defensive backs of his recruiting class. As a child, King played baseball, basketball, and football, and he originally dreamed of playing quarterback. That ambition faded by his early teenage years because, at around 5 feet 7 inches tall, he could not see over the offensive line, which convinced him to focus on the defensive side of the ball.
Before his senior year, King experienced a significant growth spurt that pushed him to roughly 6 feet 2 inches, a change that redirected his athletic future. He gave up baseball to concentrate on football, later explaining that he was unsure how well he could play shortstop with his added height. That summer, he was named defensive Most Valuable Player at the Oakland Nike Football Training Camp, and he finished his senior season with six interceptions, leading his team. He was recognized as a first-team All-NorCal selection and a first-team Division III all-state pick by MaxPreps.com, and he also earned accolades in track and field in the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles.
King was rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and ranked as the number 73 overall prospect in California. He received scholarship offers from Washington, California, West Virginia, and Arizona State, and he ultimately committed to the Huskies because he believed he could compete for early playing time among a deep group of upperclassmen defensive backs. He chose to major in American ethnic studies and retail management.
Path to American Football
King’s path to a starting role at Washington began immediately. He arrived in 2013 as a true freshman and became the first true freshman to start for the Huskies that season, lining up primarily at safety. Although the coaching staff believed his long-term position would be cornerback, his versatility and willingness to play in the box helped him earn snaps during each of the first seven games of the year. He missed several contests due to injury, including his first bowl appearance against BYU, and one of his strongest performances came against UCLA, where he finished with four tackles and a fumble recovery.
In his second season, King played in 13 games and started 12 at safety, recording his first career interception during the Apple Cup against rival Washington State along with four tackles and a forced fumble against Illinois. As a junior, he made the full-time transition to cornerback, opening the year with three interceptions in the first three games while playing in the nickel package and earning All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention recognition. Following that season, he considered declaring for the NFL draft but returned to Washington on the advice of co-defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, who encouraged him to add more tape as an outside corner, the position most NFL teams projected for him.
As a senior, King started every game at cornerback and finished with two interceptions, 44 tackles, and 3.5 tackles for loss. He again received All-Pac-12 honorable mention, while also earning Academic All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors. One of his interceptions came against Arizona State on a one-handed grab of a fade pass from Manny Wilkins in a 44–18 Washington victory, a play that helped cement his draft stock.
Kevin King Career
Early Career (2017)
The Green Bay Packers selected King in the second round, 33rd overall, of the 2017 NFL draft, making him the sixth cornerback taken that year. He signed a four-year, $7.08 million contract that included $4.67 million in guarantees and a $3.28 million signing bonus. Because of the NFL’s policy on schools following the quarter system, he missed organized team activities and instead studied the playbook by phone and Skype with cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt.
King opened his rookie season as the fourth cornerback on the depth chart behind Davon House, Damarious Randall, and Quinten Rollins. He made his regular-season debut in the Packers’ 17–9 victory over the Seattle Seahawks and earned his first career start on September 24, 2017, after House was sidelined by a quadriceps injury. A shoulder issue that eventually required surgery to repair a torn labrum limited him to nine games and five starts, and he finished his rookie year with 28 combined tackles and five pass deflections.
Green Bay Packers Breakthrough (2018–2019)
In 2018, King won a starting job alongside veteran Tramon Williams and quickly showed his ball skills. On October 15, 2018, against the San Francisco 49ers, he recorded four solo tackles, broke up a pass, and grabbed his first career interception, sealing a 33–30 victory by picking off a pass from C. J. Beathard that was intended for Marquise Goodwin. A hamstring injury cut his season short and led to a stint on injured reserve, but he returned in time for the Packers’ playoff push.
King’s 2019 season was his most productive in Green Bay. He opened the year with five tackles and a sack of Mitchell Trubisky in a 10–3 win over the Chicago Bears, then intercepted Kirk Cousins in the end zone the following week against the Minnesota Vikings. He added an interception off Dak Prescott in a 34–24 win over the Dallas Cowboys and later picked off Cousins again on Monday Night Football, returning the ball 39 yards in a 23–10 victory. Against the Carolina Panthers, he recovered a Teddy Bridgewater fumble at the 1-yard line and returned it 48 yards. Despite his strong individual season, King’s campaign ended in disappointment during the NFC Championship Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a 31–26 loss in which he was penalized for a contested pass interference on Tyler Johnson that allowed Tampa Bay to run out the clock.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2024–Present)
After electing to skip the 2022 season to get healthy and then suffering a torn Achilles tendon in 2023 while training for a potential return, King signed with the Atlanta Falcons on April 8, 2024. The Falcons released him on August 27, re-signed him to the practice squad, and promoted him to the active roster on September 16. Following another release on October 11 and a brief return to the practice squad, he was promoted back to the active roster on October 19.
On April 11, 2025, King re-signed with the Falcons on a one-year contract, a vote of confidence in both his recovery and his veteran presence in the secondary. He was released on July 24, 2025, a routine transaction that did not end his professional career. Through his NFL career as of 2024, he had recorded 207 total tackles, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 32 pass deflections, and 7 interceptions.
Driving Style and Strengths
King is a long, rangy cornerback whose 6-foot-3 frame allows him to match up with bigger receivers and contest throws at the catch point. He has consistently tested well in agility drills, including the fastest three-cone drill and short shuttle among defensive backs at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine, and he has shown a willingness to play aggressively in run support and on special teams.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among King’s signature moments are his first career interception against the San Francisco 49ers in 2018 and a 39-yard interception return against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football in 2019. He has also recovered from a torn labrum that required surgery by Dr. James Andrews, a torn Achilles tendon, and multiple hamstring and shoulder injuries that together limited him to 51 of a possible 80 regular-season games during his first five NFL seasons.
Kevin King Career Wins
Kevin Charles King’s career is defined less by individual award totals than by stretches of high-level play for contending teams, including a 2019 season in which he helped the Green Bay Packers reach the NFC Championship Game. His seven career interceptions and 32 pass deflections, as listed in his official NFL statistics, reflect a steady ball-production profile across his time with Green Bay and Atlanta.
NFL Highlights
King’s most complete NFL season came in 2019, when he finished with multiple interceptions, a fumble recovery, and dependable tackling across coverage and run support. His first career interception came on the road against the San Francisco 49ers, and his most memorable pick came against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football, when he returned an interception 39 yards. He has continued to add to that production in shorter stints with the Atlanta Falcons, where he has served as a veteran presence in the secondary.
Kevin King Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Kevin King’s immediate family is limited. He was raised in Oakland, California, where he credited his high school coach, former Green Bay Packers linebacker Hardy Nickerson, with helping shape his development as a young defensive back.
Personal Life
King has largely kept his personal life private. He is known to have majored in American ethnic studies and retail management during his time at the University of Washington, reflecting academic interests beyond football.
2025 Season Performance
King re-signed with the Atlanta Falcons on April 11, 2025, returning for another season after a 2024 campaign in which he bounced between the active roster and the practice squad. The one-year deal signaled continued belief from the Falcons in his experience and his value as a tall, physical cornerback in their defensive scheme.
He was released by the Falcons on July 24, 2025, a transaction that opened the door for him to evaluate other opportunities around the league. Given his track record of returning from major injuries, including a torn labrum and a torn Achilles tendon, he remained a viable veteran option for teams in need of secondary depth during the 2025 season.
For the year ahead, King’s outlook depends on finding a roster home where his size, technique, and coverage experience can be deployed in a defined role. Whether he returns to Atlanta or signs elsewhere, the focus of his 2025 campaign will be on staying healthy and contributing on defense and special teams, continuing the resilience that has defined his professional journey.