LA Chargers fans remember Desmond King II as a key member of an elite secondary in the late 2010s that led the team to its last playoff win in 2018. King, a slot cornerback that season, earned an All-Pro nod for his impact on defense and special teams.
Drafted in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, King spent three and a half seasons with the Chargers before being traded in 2020 to the Tennessee Titans. The Chargers used the pick obtained from the Titans to take special teams ace Nick Niemann.
King played through the 2024 season on various teams, although he didn't start a game past 2023. He announced his retirement in December 2025 after going unsigned. On Thursday, King announced what his first post-playing career gig is going to be: a high school football assistant coach.
I am thrilled to join Saline Hornets, Saline, Michigan, with Kyle Short as the new Defensive Back Coach. This process has been incredible, and I am enthusiastic about sharing my knowledge and Pro Experience with the next generation.
— Desmond E. King II (@blaqbadger14) April 1, 2026
"Keep the main thing the main thing."
KING
Desmond King becomes high school defensive backs coach after retiring
King is following in the footsteps of Philip Rivers, who is the head coach of St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. It's a return home for King, who is a Michigan native.
The Saline Hornets went undefeated in league play last season and were the No. 12 ranked team in Michigan, according to MaxPreps.com. Saline lost in the third round of the playoffs to Cass Tech, who MaxPreps ranks No. 2 in the state.
Saline has two alumni who played in the NFL (King not being one of them as he went to East English Village Prep). Tight end Chris Baker and long snapper Taybor Peppers both went to Saline and spent a combined 17 seasons in the NFL. Baker was drafted in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.
Perhaps one day the former Chargers All-Pro can make his way up the coaching ranks and return to the NFL in that capacity. The gap between high school assistant coach and NFL coach is quite large, but it's a leap that has been made before.
Best of luck to King in his new role. If his time with the Chargers is any indication, he should be great at coaching up the next generation of defensive backs.