The Atlanta Falcons have re-signed cornerback Kevin King. The organization announced the decision on Friday. King participated in 15 games with the Falcons in 2024, starting in one. His main role was on special teams, with increased involvement in the defensive lineup towards the end of the season. He concluded the year with 10 tackles, two pass breakups, and a fumble recovery.
2024 marked King’s comeback to active play since his time with the Green Bay Packers in 2021. He was absent during the 2022 season due to personal reasons and a torn Achilles halted his efforts to return in 2023. King shared his experiences during a YouTube video he posted that year.
His return to gameplay occurred during the Falcons’ preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on August 9, 2024. In that game, King intercepted a pass from Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson and returned it for 29 yards. Reflecting on his performance, King stated, “When I got on that field, it’s like ‘OK, now this feels like home.’ It wasn’t: ‘Can I get back?’ It was: ‘No, I’m back.'”
King was a second-round draft pick by the Packers in 2017 and played 51 games with 42 starts over five seasons. During his tenure with the Packers, he accumulated 197 tackles, seven interceptions, 30 pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and a sack. His career highlights included five interceptions in 2019.
The connection between King and the Falcons may have been strengthened by assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray and secondary coach Justin Hood. Both Gray and Hood worked alongside King at Green Bay. Gray joined the Falcons in 2023, followed by Hood in 2024. Gray expressed confidence in King by saying, “I trust him wholeheartedly. … And trust me, I don’t have any problem with him going out on the football field. That’s the least of my worries.”
With the Falcons, King joins a group of cornerbacks including A.J. Terrell, Mike Hughes, Dee Alford, Natrone Brooks, and Clark Phillips III. The team has also added Mike Ford and Keith Taylor through free agency.
