Haynes King leads Panthers to 33-30 win on final play of Hall of Fame Game

August 7, 2026 - 01:19

Haynes King, the quarterback who surprisingly went undrafted this spring despite being the ACC Player of the Year, made the most of his first professional showcase. King led the Panthers to a dramatic 33-30 victory over the Bears in the Hall of Fame Game, capping the night with a touchdown on the final play of the contest.

The game looked out of reach for the Panthers late in the fourth quarter, but King engineered a masterful two-minute drive. Facing a fourth down from the Bears' 15-yard line with no time left on the clock, King scrambled to his right, bought time, and fired a strike into the end zone to secure the win. The touchdown capped a night where King showed exactly why he was so decorated in college, completing 18 of 27 passes for 210 yards and two scores, while also adding 45 rushing yards.

His performance was a reminder of his dual-threat ability and poise under pressure. While many questioned why he wasn't selected in the draft, King used the biggest stage of the preseason to make a statement. The Panthers' coaching staff will surely have a tough decision to make as they evaluate their quarterback room, but King's clutch play in Canton will be hard to ignore.