Steelers Now
Former Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Desmond King announced on X that he’s officially retired from the NFL. King played eight years in the NFL, mostly with the Los Angeles Chargers.
His time with the Steelers was brief, playing only three games in 2023. He just never found footing in the Steelers’ defensive scheme. The Steelers signed King after the Houston Texans released him as part of their final roster cuts in late August. He returned to the Texans in November after the Steelers released him on Oct. 18.
King started five games for the Texans down the stretch, including two games in the playoffs. Despite playing well, King was not re-signed in the offseason.
On Nov. 19, 2024, King was signed to the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad. He made two appearances for the Ravens, recording three combined tackles.
Officially Retired! BOLT UP ⚡️
— Desmond E. King II (@blaqbadger14) December 10, 2025
A fifth-round pick of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017, King was a contributor right away as a rookie and has played at least 15 games in each of his five NFL seasons. King became a part-time starter in his second season and continued that role until he was traded to the Tennessee Titans mid-season in 2020.
A free agent in 2021, he signed a one-year deal with Houston, which made him the Texans’ starting slot cornerback. Before last season, he signed a two-year contract extension and played well, setting a career high in total snaps played, adding 103 snaps of special teams to his 918 of defense. He finished fourth on the Houston defense with 89 tackles and had two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
King played over 900 snaps for the Texans in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons, and did it relatively well, especially in 2022, when he had an 89.2 passer rating when targeted per Pro Football Focus.
He played most of his time in the slot, where he’s also a relatively solid run defender.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Former Steelers CB Announces Retirement
