Professional Football Player. For nine seasons (1958 to 1966), he played at the fullback and halfback positions in the National Football League with the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings. Born Phillip Edgar King, he attended Dyersburg High School in Tennessee, where he was a multi-sport athlete who excelled at baseball, basketball and football. In the latter, he achieved all-state honors. While at Vanderbilt University, King was an offensive force who led the Commodores in rushing yardage, total offensive yardage, punt returns and kickoff returns in 1956, as he combined speed with strength. He achieved All-SEC honors that season. In addition to football, he made his mark as a sprinter and javelin thrower on the collegiate level. Selected by the New York Giants as the 12th overall pick during the 1958 NFL Draft, he totaled 103 career regular season games. He completed the Giants' ground attack which included Frank Gifford, Alex Webster and Mel Triplett, in addition to serving as a kick returner on special teams. King experienced five trips to the NFL Title Game with the Giants (1958, 1959, 1961 to 1963). After retiring as a player, he served as a part-time scout with the New York Giants, in addition to working as a salesman. King died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at the age of 36.
Professional Football Player. For nine seasons (1958 to 1966), he played at the fullback and halfback positions in the National Football League with the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings. Born Phillip Edgar King, he attended Dyersburg High School in Tennessee, where he was a multi-sport athlete who excelled at baseball, basketball and football. In the latter, he achieved all-state honors. While at Vanderbilt University, King was an offensive force who led the Commodores in rushing yardage, total offensive yardage, punt returns and kickoff returns in 1956, as he combined speed with strength. He achieved All-SEC honors that season. In addition to football, he made his mark as a sprinter and javelin thrower on the collegiate level. Selected by the New York Giants as the 12th overall pick during the 1958 NFL Draft, he totaled 103 career regular season games. He completed the Giants' ground attack which included Frank Gifford, Alex Webster and Mel Triplett, in addition to serving as a kick returner on special teams. King experienced five trips to the NFL Title Game with the Giants (1958, 1959, 1961 to 1963). After retiring as a player, he served as a part-time scout with the New York Giants, in addition to working as a salesman. King died from an accidental self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head at the age of 36.
Bio by: C.S.
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