Marquette King

Marquette King Bio

Marquette King Jr. (born October 26, 1988) is an American professional football punter best known for his time in the National Football League (NFL) and the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Fort Valley State Wildcats and was signed by the Oakland Raiders of the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2012. King led the NFL in punting yards in 2014 and later helped the Arlington Renegades capture the XFL championship in 2023.

Across his career, Marquette King built a reputation as one of the most powerful and theatrical punters in professional football, combining big-leg production with a celebratory personality that regularly drew national media attention. After his release from the NFL, he transitioned to the spring football leagues, finishing his career as a respected veteran with the Dallas Renegades.

Early Life and Background

Marquette King Jr. was born and raised in Macon, Georgia, by his parents Audrey King and Marquette King Sr. He grew up alongside a younger sister named Jasmine and developed an early love for football, originally dreaming of playing wide receiver. The sport became a central part of his childhood in middle Georgia, where he spent long hours practicing and watching games.

King attended Rutland High School in Macon, Georgia, where he first started punting. As a child, he had hoped to play wide receiver, but when his teammates declined to join him for extra kicking practice, he began challenging himself to see how far he could punt on his own. His high school coach quickly noticed the strength in his leg and named him the team’s punter in addition to his role as a receiver, launching his career as a specialist.

Path to Professional Football

After high school, Marquette King attended Fort Valley State University, where he was originally recruited as a wide receiver. He struggled to earn playing time at the position during his first two seasons, but a turning point arrived when a new head coach discovered that he had been practicing punting in his spare time. The coach famously threatened to revoke King’s scholarship unless he focused full-time on becoming a punter, a decision that ultimately shaped the rest of his career.

King embraced the position and quickly developed into one of the top specialists in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC). During his senior year in 2011, he was named First-Team All-SIAC and the Fort Valley State Wildcats’ Most Valuable Player. That same season, he led the SIAC in punting with a 43-yards-per-punt average, landed 21 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, and recorded a career-long 80-yard punt against Bethune-Cookman University. His strong senior campaign led to an invitation to the inaugural NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in 2012, where he showcased his leg for NFL scouts.

Marquette King Career

Early Career (2012–2013)

Marquette King went undrafted in the 2012 NFL draft but received a tryout with the Oakland Raiders, who signed him to a three-year, $1.36 million contract on April 29, 2012. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve after veteran punter Shane Lechler suffered an early injury, allowing King to take most of the punting snaps in training camp and impress the coaching staff. When Lechler departed in free agency for the Houston Texans, King competed for the starting job in 2013 against veteran Chris Kluwe and won the role after a strong preseason.

During the 2013 regular season, King led the NFL in gross yards per punt with a 48.9 average, immediately establishing himself as one of the league’s most powerful young legs. That breakout year set the tone for what would become a record-setting tenure in Oakland, with King quickly becoming a central figure in the Raiders’ special-teams plans.

Oakland Raiders Breakthrough (2014–2017)

Marquette King’s 2014 season was his most productive in Oakland. He led the NFL in both total punting yards and total punts, finishing the year with 4,930 yards on 109 punts. Those numbers set single-season franchise records for the Oakland Raiders and confirmed his status as a full-time NFL starter.

In March 2015, King signed a one-year, $1.54 million contract to remain with the Raiders and was later named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 15. Following the 2015 season, the Raiders rewarded him with a five-year, $16.5 million extension that included $12.5 million guaranteed and a $250,000 signing bonus. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week again in Week 7 of the 2016 season and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors for his play that year. His high-energy celebrations after punts, including dances and showmanship moments, were covered regularly by national sports media. The Raiders released King on March 30, 2018, ending a six-year run in Oakland that cemented his reputation as one of the most recognizable punters of his era.

Denver Broncos Era (2018)

Shortly after his release from Oakland, Marquette King signed a three-year, $7 million contract with the Denver Broncos on April 5, 2018. The move gave him a fresh opportunity in a new organization, but his time in Denver was cut short. He was placed on injured reserve on October 6, 2018, with a thigh injury, and the team reached an injury settlement with him two days later, resulting in his release.

St. Louis BattleHawks Era (2020)

After sitting out 2019, Marquette King returned to professional football when he was selected by the St. Louis BattleHawks in the 2020 XFL Supplemental Draft on November 22, 2019. He played in five games for the BattleHawks and recorded 19 punts for 868 yards while also leading the XFL in punting yards that season. His tenure with the team ended when the XFL suspended operations on April 10, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and his contract was terminated.

Arlington / Dallas Renegades Era (2023–Present)

Marquette King was selected by the Arlington Renegades in the 2023 XFL draft and quickly became a leader on the team’s special-teams unit. That season, he helped the Renegades capture the XFL championship, adding the first major team title of his professional career. He re-signed with the franchise on January 29, 2024, and was later named to the 2024 All-UFL team on June 5, 2024, after the league merged the XFL and USFL. King signed another deal with the Renegades on October 25, continuing his role with the team as it carried the Dallas Renegades branding.

Driving Style and Strengths

Marquette King built his reputation on elite leg strength, directional punting, and the ability to flip field position with a single kick. His 48.9-yard gross average in 2013 and his franchise-record 4,930-yard season in 2014 showcased his raw power, while his All-UFL recognition in 2024 reflected his continued accuracy and consistency. Coaches and teammates often pointed to his confident, aggressive approach to directional punting and his knack for pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line.

Notable Events and Milestones

Among Marquette King’s signature moments are his 2013 NFL lead in gross yards per punt, his 2014 record-setting Oakland Raiders season, his 2016 Second-Team All-Pro selection, and his role in the 2023 XFL championship with the Arlington Renegades. He was a multi-time AFC Special Teams Player of the Week and was widely known for his post-punt celebrations, which became a recurring storyline in national sports coverage throughout his Raiders tenure.

Marquette King Career Wins

As a punter, Marquette King’s career statistics stand as his primary form of recognition. Across his NFL regular-season career, he recorded 446 punts for 20,822 yards with a 46.7-yard average, a 72-yard long, and 163 punts downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. His league-leading 2014 punting-yard total and his 2013 gross-average title remain the statistical cornerstones of his resume.

Oakland Raiders Highlights

During his six seasons with the Oakland Raiders, Marquette King established himself as one of the most productive punters in franchise history. His 2014 totals of 109 punts and 4,930 punting yards set single-season Raiders records, and he led the NFL in gross yards per punt in 2013 with a 48.9 average. He also earned two AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors and a 2016 Second-Team All-Pro selection while with the team.

Other Wins and Performances

Marquette King was the XFL punting yards leader in 2020 with the St. Louis BattleHawks, recording 868 yards on 19 punts. He was a First-Team All-SIAC selection in 2011, the 2011 Fort Valley State Wildcats MVP, and an All-UFL Team honoree in 2024. He capped his career by helping the Arlington Renegades win the 2023 XFL championship.

Marquette King Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Marquette King Jr. was raised in Macon, Georgia, by his father, Marquette King Sr., and his mother, Audrey King. He has a younger sister named Jasmine. His parents supported his athletic path from an early age, encouraging his development as a multisport football player before his leg strength turned him into a specialist.

Personal Life

Marquette King is widely known for his charismatic and outgoing personality, which translated into his public celebrations and social media presence throughout his career. Publicly verified details about his personal relationships are limited, and he has generally kept his private life out of the spotlight. He announced his retirement from professional football on February 9, 2026, stating that the NFL had not given him another opportunity to play.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season marked the final chapter of Marquette King’s professional football career with the Dallas Renegades. Continuing in his role as the team’s primary punter, he provided veteran leadership to a young special-teams unit and remained a consistent presence in the punt game. His prior 2024 All-UFL selection set the stage for another productive year as a directional and distance punter.

Throughout the 2025 campaign, King contributed steady field-position work for the Renegades, using his experience and big leg to flip field position in tight contests. His role as a mentor to younger specialists on the roster also became a defining element of his 2025 season, reinforcing his value beyond raw statistics.

On February 9, 2026, Marquette King announced his retirement from professional football, closing a career that spanned the NFL, the XFL, and the UFL. His decision marked the end of one of the most unusual and entertaining punting careers in modern professional football.