Haynes King Stirs Buzz Among NFL Fans After Walk-Off TD in Panthers' HOF Game Win

Carolina Panthers quarterback Haynes King's late heroics helped his team secure a 33-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals in the 2026 Hall of Fame Game on Thursday night.

As Carolina trailed 30-27 with two seconds left in the fourth quarter, King left the pocket and scrambled five yards for a game-winning rushing touchdown.

King finished 21-of-34 for 180 yards and two touchdowns without getting picked off against Arizona. He also rushed for 39 yards and one score.

Fans and former players alike were impressed with King's performance.

King reflected on his preseason debut following the victory.

"It was a dream come true," King said, per the New York Post's Erich Richter. "Growing up, you hear about all these first-ballot Hall of Famers, and to see some of them walking in front of you before the game is pretty amazing. And to be able to showcase your talent in front of them is a dream come true."

While Bryce Young is set to enter his fourth season as Carolina's starting quarterback, King and former first-round pick Kenny Pickett are competing for the Panthers' backup job.

King signed with the team as an undrafted free agent on May 7 after a 2025 season at Georgia Tech in which he finished No. 10 in Heisman Trophy voting.

In 12 games, the 25-year-old completed 69.8 percent of his throws for 2,951 yards and 14 touchdowns compared to six interceptions. He also made plays with his legs, rushing for 953 yards and finding the end zone 15 times on the ground.

While it's important not to overreact to a single preseason game, King's NFL career is off to an encouraging start.