Undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King rushed 5 yards for a game-winning touchdown on the final play, lifting the Carolina Panthers to a 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame game that kicked off the NFL preseason on Thursday night in Canton, Ohio, according to NBC Sports.
Haynes King Delivers Preseason Thriller in Hall of Fame Game
King, who starred as the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year last season at Georgia Tech, was not selected in the NFL draft. The Panthers subsequently signed him as a free agent, placing him third on the depth chart behind starting quarterback Bryce Young and veteran Kenny Pickett.
Pickett started Thursday’s contest and completed 8 of 11 passes for 62 yards before King replaced him with 9:38 remaining in the first half while Carolina trailed 14-7. King finished the night completing 21 of 34 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 39 yards on three carries.
Backups Shine as Both Teams Rest Starters
Neither team played its regular starters, giving reserves and backups an opportunity to perform on the national stage. While Bryce Young acted as King’s prominent cheerleader from the sideline, King engineered a late-game rally that saw multiple lead changes.
King threw a 15-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and added a 4-yard scoring pass to Anthony Tyus III in the opening minute of the fourth quarter, which briefly put Carolina ahead 24-20. Later in the contest, King kept the final game-winning drive alive by scrambling for a 26-yard gain on a third-and-14 situation.
These are things that he did throughout his career,
Panthers coach Dave Canales said of King. The bottom line is move the chains.
Cardinals Rookies and Quarterback Rotation
The Cardinals also utilized their backup and reserve personnel extensively. Rookie quarterback Carson Beck, a third-round draft pick from Miami who previously led the Hurricanes to the national championship game against Fernando Mendoza and Indiana, had an impressive debut under rookie Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur.
Beck completed 15 of 19 passes for 188 yards and one touchdown, including a 98-yard scoring drive where he completed all six of his passes. That sequence featured a 35-yard strike to Jalen Brooks on third-and-7 from Arizona’s 7-yard line, a 49-yard deep ball to Brooks, and a 5-yard touchdown pass to Simi Fehoko.
Following Beck’s departure, fourth-string quarterback Kedon Slovis entered the game and completed 9 of 10 passes for 106 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Green with 1:55 remaining that gave Arizona a 30-27 advantage before King’s final-play heroics.
Hall of Fame Context and Upcoming Preseason Schedule
The high-scoring exhibition saw the Cardinals accumulate 425 total yards compared to 378 yards for the Panthers. Arizona plays its next preseason game on the road against the Las Vegas Raiders on Aug. 13, while the Panthers travel to face the Buffalo Bills on Aug. 15.
The matchup coincided with Hall of Fame weekend festivities. Cardinals players wore red T-shirts featuring Larry Fitzgerald’s No. 11 during warmups and on the sidelines to honor the legendary wide receiver, who joined Drew Brees, Roger Craig, Adam Vinatieri, and Luke Kuechly in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Additionally, veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett and All-Pro tight end Trey McBride visited the Pro Football Hall of Fame Museum to view their displayed jerseys following record-breaking individual performances from the previous season.
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