Haynes King has suddenly become one of the most talked-about quarterbacks in the NFL preseason after delivering a memorable performance for the Carolina Panthers. The former Georgia Tech standout entered the Panthers’ Hall of Fame Game against the Arizona Cardinals and produced a dramatic fourth-quarter finish, scoring the game-winning touchdown with no time remaining.
King’s performance was especially notable because he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent. Rather than simply trying to secure a roster spot, the 25-year-old quarterback gave Carolina a major reason to consider him for a larger role.
Haynes King and the NFL
Haynes King entered the NFL in 2026 after going undrafted. The Carolina Panthers signed him as one of their 10 undrafted rookie free agents in May, giving the quarterback an opportunity to compete for a roster spot behind Bryce Young and Kenny Pickett.
King arrived in the NFL after a long college journey. He began his career at Texas A&M before transferring to Georgia Tech, where he developed into one of the ACC’s most productive quarterbacks.
NFL.com listed King as a 6-foot-2⅜, 212-pound quarterback prospect and highlighted his athleticism and dual-threat ability. His NFL evaluation noted that his running ability and toughness could help him compete despite concerns about his passing mechanics and consistency.
That combination of athletic ability and competitiveness was on full display in his first preseason appearance.
Haynes King Panthers Breakthrough
The phrase “King Panthers” became much more relevant after his performance against Arizona.
With the Panthers facing the Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game, King entered during the second quarter and immediately provided energy to the offense. He completed 21 of 34 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns while adding 39 rushing yards.
The biggest moment came at the end of the game.
Carolina drove 65 yards on 13 plays during its final possession. King made several important plays with his arm and legs before taking the ball into the end zone on a five-yard scramble as time expired.
The touchdown gave the Panthers a 33-30 victory.
For an undrafted rookie quarterback, it was about as impressive a preseason debut as possible.
King also led scoring drives on five of his six possessions, showing that his mobility could translate into meaningful production against NFL competition.
Panthers Quarterback Competition
King’s performance could make the Carolina Panthers’ quarterback situation more interesting.
Bryce Young remains the Panthers’ starting quarterback, while veteran Kenny Pickett entered training camp as the primary backup. However, Will Grier’s retirement in July left Carolina with only three quarterbacks entering camp: Young, Pickett and King.
That gave King an important opportunity to receive additional preseason snaps.
Before the Hall of Fame Game, King was largely viewed as a developmental quarterback competing for a practice-squad or roster position. His performance against Arizona could change that perception.
One preseason game does not determine a quarterback’s NFL future, but King demonstrated several qualities teams look for in a backup. He showed mobility, toughness, confidence and the ability to create plays when a pocket breaks down.
His biggest challenge will be proving that his passing can remain consistent over a larger sample.
Haynes King vs. Cardinals
The matchup between the Panthers and Cardinals provided one of the most interesting quarterback storylines of the preseason.
King led Carolina to the dramatic victory, but Arizona’s rookie quarterback Carson Beck also had an impressive night.
Beck completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown. His performance helped Arizona build a strong offensive showing and demonstrated why the Cardinals selected him with the No. 65 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The contrast between King and Beck made the game particularly interesting.
Beck was a third-round draft selection with significant college experience, while King was an undrafted rookie trying to prove he belongs in the NFL. Yet King ultimately delivered the game-winning play.
That does not mean King has suddenly passed Beck as an NFL prospect. Their situations are very different. Beck has the security of being a Day 2 draft pick, while King is fighting for every opportunity.
Still, their performances made the Panthers-Cardinals matchup one of the most talked-about preseason games.
Haynes King’s Georgia Tech Career
King’s NFL opportunity was built on a remarkable turnaround at Georgia Tech.
After transferring from Texas A&M, he became a dynamic dual-threat quarterback for the Yellow Jackets. His best season came in 2025, when he accounted for 3,920 yards of total offense in 12 games, setting a Georgia Tech single-season record.
King was also named ACC Player of the Year and ACC Offensive Player of the Year. He finished 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting and won the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.
Earlier in the 2025 season, King produced a spectacular performance against Syracuse, accounting for 395 total yards and five touchdowns. He threw for 304 yards, rushed for 91 yards and completed 25 of 31 passes.
Those numbers explain why NFL teams were interested despite the concerns surrounding his pro prospects.
From Texas A&M to Georgia Tech
King’s college career was not always smooth.
At Texas A&M, he showed flashes of potential but also dealt with injuries and inconsistent opportunities. He started the 2021 season opener against Kent State before suffering a season-ending injury against Colorado.
In 2022, he opened the season as the Aggies’ starter and threw for 364 yards and three touchdowns against Sam Houston.
His transfer to Georgia Tech proved to be a turning point.
At Tech, King developed into a more confident and productive quarterback. His ability to combine passing with designed runs and improvisation became a major part of the Yellow Jackets’ offense.
That experience could help him in the NFL, where backup quarterbacks often need to contribute in multiple ways.
What Comes Next for King?
The next step for Haynes King is consistency.
His performance against the Cardinals gave him momentum, but the Panthers will want to see whether he can reproduce that level of play throughout the preseason and training camp.
The key questions will involve his accuracy, decision-making, pocket presence and ability to read NFL defenses. His athleticism is already clear. The bigger question is whether his passing can become reliable enough for him to earn a permanent spot on Carolina’s roster.
For now, King has done exactly what an undrafted quarterback needs to do: create a reason for coaches and fans to keep watching.
His last-second touchdown against Arizona was more than a highlight. It was a statement.
Haynes King, Panthers and the Road Ahead
Haynes King’s journey from Texas A&M to Georgia Tech and finally to the NFL has already been unusual. His college career included adversity, injuries, a transfer and ultimately major individual honors.
Now, his NFL story has started with another unexpected chapter.
The Panthers gave him an opportunity as an undrafted rookie, and King responded by producing 219 total yards and three touchdowns in his preseason debut, including the game-winning rushing score.
Carson Beck may have entered the Panthers-Cardinals game with the advantage of being a third-round selection, but King left Canton with the headline.
Whether he becomes Bryce Young’s long-term backup, wins a roster spot or eventually earns a larger NFL opportunity remains to be seen. What is clear is that Haynes King has already made his presence known.
