Undrafted rookie quarterback Haynes King stole the spotlight in the Hall of Fame Game, engineering a second-half comeback for the Carolina Panthers in their 33-30 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
King, 25, who transferred from Texas A&M to Georgia Tech before his NFL debut, threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-34 passing. He also added 39 rushing yards, including the game-winning touchdown as time expired.
"It was a dream come true," King said after the game. "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."
King was named ACC Player of the Year last season while at Georgia Tech. His performance in his professional debut surprised many.
"Haynes is a fantastic athlete and he just finds a way to win, and that's what he did," said Panthers coach Dave Canales. "Really proud of the group and also proud of the whole team celebrating. That's something we pride ourselves on, celebrating how hard we work on these situations and then watching it come alive."
The Panthers bench stormed the field to celebrate King's dramatic winning touchdown.
King is competing for a roster spot with the Panthers, who have Kenny Pickett secured as the primary backup to starter Bryce Young. Pickett, a former first-round pick, signed a one-year contract worth $7.5 million with $4 million guaranteed. Pickett started the Hall of Fame Game, completing 8-of-11 passes for 62 yards.