Kevin King Bio
Kevin Charles King is an American professional football cornerback born on May 5, 1995, in Oakland, California. He played college football for the Washington Huskies from 2013 to 2016, where he lined up at both safety and cornerback and earned multiple All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mentions. The Green Bay Packers selected him in the second round of the 2017 NFL draft, and he spent his first five professional seasons in Green Bay before continuing his career in Atlanta. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall, King is known for his length and physical presence on the outside.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Charles King grew up in Oakland, California, where he attended Bishop O’Dowd High School. As a child he played baseball, basketball, and football, and he originally dreamed of playing quarterback. At 5 feet 7 inches he could not see over the offensive line, so he shifted his focus to the defensive side of the ball. During his junior year of high school he experienced a significant growth spurt that brought him to 6 feet 2 inches, which pushed him to stop playing baseball and concentrate on football. He was coached in high school by Hardy Nickerson, a former Green Bay Packers player, and prior to his senior year he was named defensive MVP at the Oakland Nike Football Training Camp.
King finished his senior season with six interceptions, leading his team, and earned first-team All-NorCal honors along with first-team Division III all-state recognition from MaxPreps.com. He also competed in track and field, posting strong results in the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter hurdles. Rated a three-star prospect and the 73rd overall recruit in California by Rivals.com, he drew scholarship offers from Washington, California, West Virginia, and Arizona State. He ultimately chose Washington because he believed he could play early given the number of upperclassmen in the secondary, and he went on to major in American ethnic studies and retail management.
Path to American Football
King arrived at Washington in 2013 as a true freshman and immediately earned a starting role at safety, becoming the first true freshman to start for the Huskies that season. He played in seven games before injuries cost him time on the field and kept him out of the team’s bowl game against BYU. Even in that shortened debut year he flashed potential, highlighted by a strong performance against UCLA that included four tackles and a fumble recovery.
In his second season, King moved into a full-time starting role at safety and appeared in 13 games. He recorded his first career interception in the Apple Cup against rival Washington State and added a forced fumble against Illinois. He closed the year with nine tackles against Oklahoma State in his first bowl appearance. As a junior he transitioned to cornerback, where he recorded three interceptions in the first three games while playing in the nickel package and earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors. After considering leaving for the NFL, he returned for his senior year at the urging of co-defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, started every game, and posted two interceptions and 44 tackles while earning another All-Pac-12 honorable mention.
Kevin King Career
Early Career (2017)
The Green Bay Packers selected Kevin Charles King in the second round, 33rd overall, of the 2017 NFL draft, making him the sixth cornerback taken that year. On May 11, 2017, he signed a four-year, $7.08 million contract that included $4.67 million in guaranteed money and a $3.28 million signing bonus. Because Washington operated on the quarters system, King was not able to join the Packers for organized team activities and instead worked remotely with cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt to learn the playbook over the phone and via Skype.
King opened his rookie season as the fourth backup cornerback 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 in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals, finishing with a season-high seven combined tackles. A recurring shoulder injury limited him throughout the year, and after multiple dislocations he underwent surgery performed by Dr. James Andrews to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He finished his rookie campaign with 28 combined tackles, 22 of them solo, and five pass deflections across nine games and five starts.
Green Bay Packers Breakthrough (2018-2019)
King returned healthy in 2018 and won a starting job opposite veteran Tramon Williams. After missing two games with a groin injury, he recorded his first career interception on October 15, 2018, picking off C. J. Beathard in the fourth quarter to seal a 33-30 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. A hamstring injury in Week 9 cost him four more games and led to a stint on injured reserve, but he closed the year with momentum and a clear role in the defense.
In 2019, King opened the season with one of his strongest performances, recording five tackles and a sack of Mitchell Trubisky in a 10-3 win over the Chicago Bears. He added a crucial end-zone interception against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 2, snared a pass from Dak Prescott in a Week 5 win over the Dallas Cowboys, and picked off Kirk Cousins again on Monday Night Football in Week 16. In a Week 15 win over the Carolina Panthers he recovered a Teddy Bridgewater fumble at the 1-yard line and returned it 48 yards, showing the kind of playmaking that defined his peak seasons in Green Bay.
Green Bay Packers Later Years (2020-2021)
King signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Packers on March 26, 2021, returning as the second cornerback on the depth chart. After a rough start in which he allowed 6 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown on 7 targets in the first two games, he was benched in favor of rookie first-round pick Eric Stokes. A series of injuries and illnesses followed, and when Jaire Alexander was lost for the season, King had a chance to reclaim a starting role but struggled to stay on the field.
He returned against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5 but left with another shoulder injury. By Week 10, with Rasul Douglas emerging as the starter opposite Stokes, King was limited to fewer than 40 percent of defensive snaps for the remainder of the season. He finished his Packers career with a memorable end-zone interception of Russell Wilson that preserved a 17-0 shutout of the Seattle Seahawks, but persistent injuries ultimately defined his final years in Green Bay.
NFC Championship Game and Departure (2020-2021)
King’s most difficult moment as a Packer came in the 2020 NFC Championship Game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was beaten for two receiving touchdowns, including one at the end of the first half in a prevent defense, and was flagged for a controversial pass-interference penalty on Tyler Johnson on a critical third-and-four that allowed Tampa Bay to run out the clock. The 31-26 loss ended Green Bay’s season and prompted the Packers to recalibrate their secondary the following offseason. After five seasons with the team, King departed as a free agent.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2024-Present)
On April 8, 2024, King signed with the Atlanta Falcons in search of a fresh start. He was released on August 27 and quickly re-signed to the practice squad, then promoted to the active roster on September 16. After another release and a return to the practice squad, he was promoted again on October 19 and finished the year contributing on defense and special teams. On April 11, 2025, King re-signed with the Falcons on a one-year contract, signaling the organization’s continued belief in his experience and length.
Driving Style and Strengths
King’s game is built around his unusual size and length for the cornerback position, allowing him to match up with bigger wide receivers and disrupt throwing lanes at the catch point. He has shown a willingness to play physical press coverage and to support the run, and his ball production during the 2019 season demonstrated strong route recognition and finishing ability. The veteran has also built chemistry with defensive coaching staffs in both Green Bay and Atlanta, leaning on his experience to stay assignment-sound even when his body has not fully cooperated.
Notable Events and Milestones
King’s signature NFL moment came in the 2019 season opener when he recorded five tackles and a sack against the Chicago Bears, signaling his emergence as a starting cornerback. He added four interceptions across the 2018 and 2019 seasons, including the game-sealing pick of C. J. Beathard against the 49ers and the end-zone interception of Kirk Cousins against the Vikings. He also authored one of the most memorable hustle plays of his career with a 48-yard fumble return against the Panthers in 2019, and he preserved a 17-0 shutout of the Seattle Seahawks in 2021 with a red-zone interception of Russell Wilson.
Kevin King Career Wins
Across his time with the Green Bay Packers, King contributed to multiple playoff-caliber defenses and helped the team reach the NFC Championship Game in 2020. His individual win totals as a cornerback are not detailed in available sources, so a season-by-season breakdown is omitted in favor of focusing on his confirmed highlights and team results.
Green Bay Packers Highlights
King’s most memorable Packers moments include his first career interception against the San Francisco 49ers in 2018 and his four-interception campaign the following season, when he picked off C. J. Beathard, Kirk Cousins twice, and Dak Prescott. He also recovered a Teddy Bridgewater fumble for a 48-yard return in a 2019 win over the Carolina Panthers and sealed a 2021 shutout of the Seattle Seahawks with an end-zone interception of Russell Wilson. While postseason success was limited, his 2020 NFC Championship Game appearance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers remains a defining chapter of his career.
Other Wins and Performances
At Washington, King was a multi-year starter who helped the Huskies reach bowl games and earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention recognition in both his junior and senior seasons. He capped his high school career with first-team All-NorCal honors after leading Bishop O’Dowd with six interceptions as a senior.
Kevin King Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Kevin Charles King’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in Oakland, California, and was shaped in part by his high school coach Hardy Nickerson, a former Green Bay Packers linebacker who helped guide his early development. Beyond that relationship, detailed family background is not widely documented.
Personal Life
Kevin Charles King is known primarily through his professional career, and details about his personal life, marital status, and children are not publicly confirmed in available sources. He has remained connected to his Oakland roots while building his NFL career in Green Bay and Atlanta.
2025 Season Performance
Kevin Charles King re-signed with the Atlanta Falcons on April 11, 2025, on a one-year contract, returning to a defensive backfield that values his size and experience. The team released him on July 24, a move that reflected the constant roster churn typical of veteran cornerbacks competing for roster spots late in the offseason.
King’s path back to the active roster in 2025 follows the same pattern he established in 2024, when he bounced between the practice squad and the 53-man roster multiple times. His ability to step in on short notice and contribute on special teams makes him a dependable depth piece for Atlanta. With the Falcons continuing to invest in younger cornerbacks, King will look to earn another promotion and provide veteran leadership whenever his number is called.