Kevin Charles King Bio
Kevin Charles King is an American professional football cornerback who has played in the National Football League since 2017. Born in Oakland, California, King attended Bishop O’Dowd High School before playing college football at the University of Washington from 2013 to 2016. The Green Bay Packers selected King in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and he spent five seasons with the organization. In 2024, King joined the Atlanta Falcons, continuing his NFL career after navigating significant injury challenges throughout his professional tenure.
Early Life and Background
Kevin Charles King was born on May 5, 1995, in Oakland, California. He attended Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, where he excelled in multiple sports including baseball, basketball, and football during his childhood. As a young athlete, King originally aspired to play quarterback but realized at 5 feet 7 inches tall that he could not see over the offensive line from that position.
During his junior year of high school, King experienced a significant growth spurt that brought his height to 6 feet 2 inches. This transformation prompted him to shift his focus entirely to football, as he was uncertain how his extra inches would affect his baseball abilities, particularly his capacity to play shortstop effectively. Under the guidance of coach Hardy Nickerson, who had played for the Packers in 2002, King developed his skills as a defensive player during his high school career.
King’s high school achievements included being named defensive most valuable player at the Oakland Nike Football Training Camp prior to his senior year. He finished that season with six interceptions, leading his team, and earned first-team All-NorCal and first-team Division Three All-State honors from MaxPreps.com. Beyond football, King also competed in track and field, winning accolades in the 110-meter high hurdles and the 300-meter hurdles events.
Path to the NFL
As a highly recruited prospect coming out of high school, King received attention from multiple major college programs including Washington, California, West Virginia, and Arizona State. He was rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com and ranked as the 73rd overall prospect in California. King ultimately chose to commit to the University of Washington, partly because he believed he could earn early playing time given the number of junior and senior defensive backs on the roster at that time.
At Washington, King arrived on campus believing he would play cornerback, though the coaching staff initially positioned him at safety during his freshman season. He became the first true freshman to start for the Huskies in 2013, though injuries limited his availability including his first bowl game against BYU. His best performance that inaugural college season came against UCLA, where he recorded four tackles and a fumble recovery.
Kevin Charles King Career
College Career (2013–2016)
During his sophomore season at Washington, King continued playing safety and appeared in 13 games while starting 12 at the position. He recorded his first career interception during the Apple Cup rivalry game against Washington State and also forced a fumble against Illinois. In the team’s bowl game against Oklahoma State, King registered nine tackles.
King made the transition to cornerback entering his junior year and made an immediate impact, recording three interceptions in the first three games of the season while playing in the nickel position. He accumulated a team-high nine tackles including two for loss, along with a forced fumble and a recovery against Washington State. Despite sitting out the bowl game due to injury, his strong performance earned him an All-Pac-12 Conference honorable mention. Following the season, King considered declaring for the NFL Draft, but co-defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake encouraged him to return for his senior year to develop more film at outside cornerback, which was projected as his NFL position.
As a senior captain in 2016, King started every game at cornerback and finished with two interceptions, 44 tackles, and 3.5 tackles for loss. His standout moment came against Arizona State when he made a one-handed interception on a fade pass from Manny Wilkins in a game Washington won 44-18. King earned his second consecutive All-Pac-12 honorable mention and was also named to the Academic All-Pac-12 Team. He majored in American ethnic studies and retail management during his college years.
Green Bay Packers (2017–2021)
The Green Bay Packers selected Kevin Charles King in the second round with the 33rd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He became the sixth cornerback drafted that year and signed a four-year contract worth $7.08 million with $4.67 million guaranteed and a $3.28 million signing bonus. Packers director of football operations Eliot Wolf expressed excitement about adding someone with King’s size, noting he was expected to compete for a starting position immediately.
King was unable to participate in organized team activities due to the NFL’s policy regarding rookies from colleges on the quarters system. During this period, he worked extensively with cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt via phone and Skype to learn the playbook. He opened training camp competing against Damarious Randall, Davon House, Quinten Rollins, and LaDarius Gunter for the starting cornerback job. Although named the fourth backup on the depth chart to begin the regular season, King earned his first career start in Week 3 after Davon House suffered a quadriceps injury.
King’s rookie season was derailed by injuries, most notably a shoulder problem that caused multiple dislocations and at times prevented him from lifting his arm above his head. The Packers placed him on injured reserve on December 6, 2017, and he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder performed by Dr. James Andrews. He finished his rookie campaign with 28 combined tackles and five pass deflections in nine games with five starts.
King returned for the 2018 season and was named a starting cornerback alongside Tramon Williams to begin the year. He recorded his first career interception on October 15, 2018, picking off San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard in a 33-30 victory. However, a hamstring injury in Week 9 caused him to miss the next four games before he was placed on injured reserve on December 5, 2018.
The 2019 season saw King stay healthier and showcase his abilities more consistently. He recorded interceptions against Mitchell Trubisky of the Chicago Bears, Kirk Cousins twice including a crucial fourth-quarter pick in the end zone against the Minnesota Vikings, and Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys. He also recovered a fumble against the Carolina Panthers and returned it 48 yards during a 24-16 victory. King continued his solid play into the 2020 season but faced injury challenges once again.
On March 26, 2021, King signed a one-year contract worth $6 million to remain with the Packers. After struggling in the first two games and allowing 153 receiving yards on just seven targets, King was benched in Week 2 in favor of rookie Eric Stokes. A shoulder injury in Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals further disrupted his season, and he found himself behind other cornerbacks on the depth chart. King intercepted a pass from Russell Wilson in Week 10 to preserve a 17-0 shutout victory but saw limited defensive snaps for the remainder of the season.
Atlanta Falcons (2024–Present)
Kevin Charles King signed with the Atlanta Falcons on April 8, 2024. He was released during final roster cuts in late August before joining the practice squad. The Falcons promoted him to the active roster on September 16, 2024. He was released and re-signed to the practice squad twice more during the season before being promoted back to the active roster on October 19, 2024. On April 11, 2025, King re-signed with the Falcons on a one-year contract. He was released on July 24, 2025.
Playing Style and Strengths
At 6 feet 3 inches tall and 200 pounds, Kevin Charles King possesses the size and length that NFL scouts consider ideal for the cornerback position. His background playing both safety and cornerback at Washington provided him with versatility and football intelligence that translated to the professional level. King’s coverage skills, ball production in college with six career interceptions, and physical style of play distinguished him as a draft prospect. His ability to play multiple coverages and his experience in various defensive schemes added to his value as a defensive back.
Kevin Charles King Career Statistics
King has appeared in 53 NFL games with 33 starts across his career with the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons. His professional career statistics reflect his contributions as a defensive playmaker capable of making plays on the ball in coverage.
NFL Career Totals
Through the 2024 NFL season, King has recorded 207 career tackles including 157 solo tackles. He has deflected 32 passes and made seven interceptions while also contributing one sack, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries. His ability to create turnovers and finish plays has been a consistent element of his defensive skill set throughout his NFL career.
| Season | Team | Games | Tackles | Sacks | Interceptions | Pass Deflections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Green Bay Packers | 9 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2018 | Green Bay Packers | 8 | 26 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 2019 | Green Bay Packers | 13 | 50 | 1 | 4 | 11 |
| 2020 | Green Bay Packers | 13 | 58 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
| 2021 | Green Bay Packers | 10 | 45 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2024 | Atlanta Falcons | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Kevin Charles King Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
No verified family background information is publicly available regarding Kevin Charles King’s parents, siblings, or extended family. His high school coach Hardy Nickerson had NFL connections, having played for the Packers in 2002, though this represents a coaching relationship rather than family lineage.
Personal Life
King majored in American ethnic studies and retail management during his time at the University of Washington. He has maintained a presence on social media under the handle ao_kevvoo on Instagram. King has navigated an NFL career marked by injuries, undergoing multiple surgeries including a torn labrum repair in 2017 and later rehabbing from a torn Achilles tendon suffered in May 2023. He chose to sit out the 2022 NFL season to focus on recovering his health, having missed 29 of a possible 80 games to that point in his career.
2025 Season Performance
Kevin Charles King re-signed with the Atlanta Falcons on April 11, 2025, on a one-year contract. The move represented his opportunity to continue his NFL career with the organization where he spent part of the previous season. The Falcons released King on July 24, 2025, making him available as a free agent. King continues to work toward securing a roster spot in the NFL, drawing on his experience and versatility as a cornerback who can play both safety and cornerback positions. His career has demonstrated resilience through adversity, including multiple significant injuries and surgeries, reflecting his determination to remain in professional football.