Former Washington Huskies cornerback Kevin King was waived by the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday afternoon despite an impressive preseason that put him right on the bubble of making the team.
King has one of the more interesting stories of any player that was signed this offseason, and his story of determination and perseverance is worth watching as he looks for his next home.
The Falcons have kept Taylor Heinicke on the initial 53-man roster. My most surprising cuts: Chris Blair (only 5 WRs on the list) and Kevin King (only 5 CBs too). Demarcco Hellams to the IR.
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) August 27, 2024
In 2022, he announced that he would take the season off from football, citing the mental strain of the injuries that he faced during his career. While training for the 2023 season, King tore his Achilles tendon and missed the entire year, leaving him unsigned going into 2024.
He signed with the Falcons in April to compete for a roster spot under coach Raheem Morris and his college defensive backs coach, Jimmy Lake.
Even after being cut by Atlanta, it’s clear how much this opportunity meant to King by just being able to return to an NFL football field. King shared that he got emotional after coming onto the field during his first preseason game.
In addition to just making a triumphant return to the field, King snagged an interception in his first game action in over 30 months.
Falcons CB Kevin King, who left the NFL in 2021 to focus on himself, grabbed an interception in his first game back in over 30 months 👏
What a way to come back to the game ❤️ pic.twitter.com/DhLEiXpsDZ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 10, 2024
There’s no doubt that he will find a spot on a team’s practice squad at the very least. King is a savvy veteran who proved that he has plenty left in the tank to help an NFL team out.
King was a star during his time on Montlake, racking up six interceptions during his career. His best season came in 2016 when he recorded 13 passes defensed and was named an All-Pac-12 honorable mention.
For Husky fans, King was one of the key figures among some of the best defensive backfields the team has ever seen.