Don King (defensive lineman)

Donald William King (March 11, 1929 – April 15, 2014) was a defensive tackle in the National Football League.

King was born on March 11, 1929 in McBee, South Carolina.^[1] He grew up in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania. After graduating from high school, he played college football at the University of Kentucky. In his freshman season for the Wildcats, he was considered to be a good prospect. After playing for the Wildcats for two years, the plan was for him to start on the defensive line opposite Bob Gain entering 1950.^[2] However, before the season began, King was called to join the armed forces, and served in the United States Marine Corps.^[2][3] He was stationed in Parris Island, South Carolina and played for the Marines' football team.^[4]

After being discharged from military service in July 1954, King signed with the Cleveland Browns for the 1954 NFL season.^[5] He made the roster as a result of playing football during his military service; his weight had increased to 260 pounds and his strength on the defensive line had increased as well.^[6][7] He played in nine games for the Browns during the season, and had a fumble recovery on October 10 against the Chicago Cardinals.^[1][8] Despite playing in nine games, King saw minimal playing time in the games, due to a combination of the Browns' starting linemen performing well and Bob Gain returning from military service of his own in December.^[9]

After the 1954 season ended, King signed with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. He played for part of the 1955 season, but due to injuries during his time with the team, he was let go in October.^[10] After his release, King applied for reinstatement to the NFL, which was granted, and he rejoined the Browns. His reunion was short-lived; in April 1956, the Browns traded King and Gene Donaldson to the Green Bay Packers for two draft picks.^[11] King spent the preseason battling for the starting defensive tackle position opposite Dave Hanner with the previous season's starter Jerry Helluin, and ended up being the starter during some of the preseason games.^[12] Helluin ultimately won the job, and King saw limited playing time in six games before his release in early November.^[1][13]

Later in the month, the Philadelphia Eagles signed King to a contract.^[14] His first appearance as an Eagle was against his former team, the Cleveland Browns. In that game, King had two fumble recoveries in a 17–14 Eagles loss.^[15] In the final game of the 1956 season against the New York Giants, King and Dick Yelvington were ejected from the game for fighting.^[16] The Eagles re-signed King for the 1957 season. The plan was for King, now at 270 pounds, to see some playing time both on the offensive and defensive line, and played both positions during the preseason.^[17] At the end of preseason, the Eagles acquired Bob Gaona through a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This spelled the end of King's tenure with the Eagles, as he was released to make room for a roster spot.^[18]

In January 1960, King was signed by the Denver Broncos of the American Football League after two years out of professional football.^[3] In April 1961, King and Al Romine were traded from the Broncos to the Boston Patriots for Art Hauser and Bill Striegel.^[19]