Haynes King: From “Who Is That?” to Panthers Hero in One Night

If I’m being honest, I had never heard of Haynes King before the Panthers’ played in the Hall of Fame Preseason Game on 8/6/26.

Like a lot of football fans, I was just excited to have NFL football back. I watched most of the game but called it a night during the third quarter. When I woke up, I grabbed my phone to check the final score and couldn’t believe what I saw.

The Panthers had won on a last second touchdown by… Haynes King.

My first thought was, “Who is Haynes King?” 😂

As I watched the highlights and learned more about the undrafted rookie quarterback, I quickly understood why Panthers fans were talking about him. King looked composed, confident, and fearless in his first NFL action. He threw for two touchdowns and then delivered the play everyone will remember, a thrilling scramble into the end zone as time expired to give Carolina the victory.

Yes, it’s only preseason, and one game doesn’t guarantee anything. Every year, players shine in August but never become regular contributors.

Still, first impressions matter.

King took advantage of his opportunity and showed that he belongs in the conversation for a roster spot. Whether he ultimately earns the backup quarterback job or spends time developing, he proved he deserves another look.

The Hall of Fame Game gave Panthers fans something to get excited about, and for one night, an undrafted rookie introduced himself to the NFL in unforgettable fashion.

I didn’t know who Haynes King was before Thursday night.

Now I’ll definitely be watching to see what he does next.

What did you think of Haynes King’s performance? Is he someone the Panthers should continue to develop, or was this simply a great preseason moment? Let me know in the comments!

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