Former Packers Second-Round Pick Returns to Falcons for 2025
Kevin King, once thought to be out of the NFL for good, has made an unexpected comeback. The former Green Bay Packers cornerback, who was drafted in the second round in 2017, reappeared in the league with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 after a two-year hiatus. Initially presumed to be just a training camp filler, King defied expectations and remained on the team, earning the veteran minimum salary of $1.13 million.
Last season, King appeared in 15 games and started once on defense. However, he played only 71 defensive snaps — just 7% of the Falcons’ total — a sharp contrast to his time in Green Bay, where he saw the field for at least 48% of defensive snaps every season.
Instead, King carved out a new role as a key special teams contributor. He logged 161 snaps on special teams in 2024, nearly equaling the 176 total special teams snaps he had in five seasons with the Packers. His work included 74 snaps on kickoff coverage, 43 on punt returns, 35 on field goal blocks, and, for the first time, reps on the kickoff return unit
His performance didn’t go unnoticed — Pro Football Focus gave him an impressive 89.2 special teams grade, far surpassing his previous career high of 64.2. The Falcons clearly valued his contribution in this role, something he never had the chance to showcase under the Packers’ previous special teams coaches.
On Friday, the Falcons announced they’ve re-signed King for the 2025 season. While the terms of the new deal haven’t been released, it’s likely another short-term, low-cost contract, keeping their special teams standout in Atlanta for another year.