Haynes King, an undrafted rookie quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns and ran for the winning score on the final play to beat the Arizona Cardinals 33-30 in the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 6 in Canton, Ohio. The performance marked his first NFL action and turned him into one of the most talked-about names of the preseason.
King entered the game with 9:38 left in the first half, replacing veteran Kenny Pickett while Carolina trailed 14-7. He went on to direct scoring drives on five of his six possessions, finishing 21 of 34 passing for 180 yards, two touchdowns, and a 125.4 passer rating. He added 39 rushing yards on three carries, capped by a 5-yard touchdown run as time expired.
How the Game Unfolded
The Cardinals started their own rookie quarterback, Carson Beck, who went 15 of 19 for 188 yards and a touchdown before Arizona turned to fourth-string quarterback Kedon Slovis. Slovis threw a late touchdown pass that gave the Cardinals a brief 30-27 lead. Haynes King answered on Carolina’s final drive, erasing the deficit with his game-winning scramble.
King’s scoring passes went 15 yards to Ja’Seem Reed and 4 yards to Anthony Tyus III, the latter putting Carolina ahead in the fourth quarter. He also broke off a 26-yard scramble on third-and-14 to extend the winning drive before finishing the game himself.
Panthers coach Dave Canales praised King’s composure afterward. “Haynes did a fantastic job, just keeping the play alive, doing whatever he had to do, run it, throw it,” Canales said. He credited King’s ability to extend plays and move the chains to habits built during his college career. Teammate Bryce Young was seen celebrating from the sideline as Haynes King crossed the goal line.
Game Stats at a Glance
| Category | Result |
| Passing | 21-of-34, 180 yards, 2 TD |
| Passer Rating | 125.4 |
| Rushing | 3 carries, 39 yards, 1 TD |
| Key TD Passes | 15 yards to Ja’Seem Reed; 4 yards to Anthony Tyus III |
| Game-Winning Play | 5-yard rushing touchdown, 0:00 remaining |
From Longview to the ACC
Haynes King was born January 9, 2001, in Longview, Texas. He played high school football under his father, John King, the longtime head coach at Longview High School, leading the team to a state championship in 2018 as a top-three dual-threat quarterback prospect in his recruiting class.
King committed to Texas A&M and spent three seasons there, a stretch interrupted by injuries, including a fractured ankle in 2021. He entered the transfer portal after the 2022 season and moved to Georgia Tech for 2023, joining head coach Brent Key’s program.
The transfer reshaped his career. Over three seasons in Atlanta, Haynes King became one of the ACC’s top dual-threat quarterbacks. His collegiate rise culminated in a stellar 2025 campaign, earning him ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All-ACC, and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. He finished 10th in Heisman Trophy voting and led Georgia Tech to an 8-4 record.
College Production
King’s passing efficiency at Georgia Tech showed steady growth over his time with the Yellow Jackets:
| Season | Comp-Att | Pct | Pass Yds | Pass TD | Rush Yds | Rush TD |
| 2023 | 226-367 | 61.6% | 2,842 | 27 | 737 | 10 |
| 2024 | 196-269 | 72.9% | 2,114 | 14 | 587 | 11 |
| 2025 | 252-361 | 69.8% | 2,951 | 14 | 953 | 15 |
Across his full college career at Texas A&M and Georgia Tech combined, Haynes King accounted for nearly 12,000 yards of total offense and 102 total touchdowns. For deep statistical breakdowns and historical game logs, explore College Football Reference to compare his production against other 2026 dual-threat prospects.
Elite Testing, No Draft Selection
King boosted his profile at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, posting a 4.46-second 40-yard dash, a 6.89-second three-cone drill, and a 4.17-second 20-yard shuttle. Review full positional breakdowns on the official NFL Combine Tracker to analyze how his athleticism stacked up against the 2026 draft class.
Despite those testing numbers and high-level production, NFL evaluators passed on Haynes King throughout the draft due to past injuries and consistency as a pocket passer. He went unselected, immediately becoming a priority target on the open market.
Signing With Carolina
The Panthers moved quickly, signing Haynes King as a high-priority undrafted free agent on a three-year contract worth up to $3.11 million, including $210,000 in fully guaranteed money.
Haynes King joined a Panthers quarterback room led by starter Bryce Young, with Kenny Pickett as the veteran backup. For continuous news on depth charts and contract structures, follow the Carolina Panthers Newsroom for official team updates throughout training camp.
Where He Stands Now
Before the Hall of Fame Game, Haynes King sat third on Carolina’s quarterback depth chart. The Canton performance drastically shifted that assessment. Postgame analyses indicate King looks like a quarterback built to compete for a spot on the active 53-man roster, potentially putting pressure on veteran depth behind Bryce Young.
Playing Style and What’s Next
King is defined as a dual-threat quarterback whose strengths include athletic running ability, play extension outside the pocket, and competitive toughness. Scouts continue to emphasize pocket consistency and protecting himself from unnecessary hits downfield as key areas for growth.
Carolina next plays the Buffalo Bills on August 15, giving King another opportunity to build on his debut before final cuts. His path from unselected prospect to a preseason spotlight marks one of the early compelling storylines of the NFL season.
