NE Atlanta News

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — After a two-year hiatus, cornerback Kevin King is attempting a professional comeback with the Atlanta Falcons. Last Friday marked a significant milestone in his return when he played in the Falcons' preseason loss to the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.

"I'm not really one to get too emotional and stuff like that," King said. "But when I ran out in the tunnel and was just looking up right before the national anthem, I was getting a little emotional. It was something that I almost couldn't even shake a little bit. I'm like man, get right. But it was a special moment."

King started and played 37 snaps—54% of the Falcons' defensive total. He made an impact early by forcing a fumble during the Dolphins' first offensive series, although Miami retained possession as the ball went out of bounds.

During the Dolphins' fourth offensive series, King intercepted a deep pass down the middle and returned it 29 yards, positioning Atlanta 16 yards from their end zone. The Falcons scored a touchdown shortly after.

King's performance included another pass breakup and three tackles.

"Kevin, he has great ball skills," Falcons assistant head coach/defense Jerry Gray said. "He knows what he can do. And then, I like him because I knew – I know – what he can do. Now you just got to prove to everybody else."

King's relationship with Gray dates back to their time with the Green Bay Packers during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. King was drafted by the Packers in 2017 as a second-round pick; Gray joined in 2020 and stayed through 2022 before moving to Atlanta.

Before the 2022 season, King stepped away from football for personal reasons.

"My first five years, I had a lot of injuries, going under the needle," King said. "It was time where I was healthy and needed that extra year to kind of get my body right so I could play another 10 years in this league, which I know I can do."

In those five years, King never completed a full season due to injuries. He took off 2022 to recover fully but tore his Achilles while preparing for training camp in 2023, sidelining him for another year.

"I got a real big support system, a lot of people that's praying for me, that's rooting for me," King said. "That keeps me going... It's a blessing."

Gray reached out to King both in 2023 and again in 2024 to offer him another chance with Atlanta.

Secondary coach Justin Hood and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake are also part of King's support network; Hood worked with him during his last season with Green Bay while Lake coached him at the University of Washington.

"I trust him," Gray said about King. "I trust him wholeheartedly... And trust me, I don't have any problem with him going out on the football field."

The Falcons signed King on April 8.

"You got to give our strength staff and our performance team a lot of credit," head coach Raheem Morris said. "We had to get him through... acclimate him to our system from the offseason... watch him go out and participate... I was excited for him."

As preseason progresses towards its conclusion on Aug. 27, it remains uncertain if King will secure a spot on the final roster.

Reflecting on his journey over these past two years, King emphasized controlling what he can control and relying on his faith for guidance.

"When I got on that field," he said, "it's like OK, now this feels like home... It wasn't: Can I get back? It was: No, I'm back."