A moment of controversy occurred in King's career in the 2005 Elimination Final, when he accidentally kicked Melbourne's Jeff White in the head.

Media commentators and fans were largely divided about whether King should have faced the tribunal for kicking, historically the most heavily penalised infringement whether accidental or intentional.

Lacking space in their salary cap, Geelong then asked King to retire,[1] but eventually traded him, along with Charlie Gardiner, to St Kilda for a sixth-round selection in the 2007 national draft.

[5][6] In 2011, King moved to the Western Bulldogs where he was a part of the coaching panel for the 2016 AFL Premiership win and the 2021 Grand Final side.

[10][11] King then coached Gold Coast Suns for a total of seven games with two wins and five losses to finish in fifteenth place on the ladder and did not make finals.

[13] King then left the Gold Coast Suns at the end of the 2023 season when he accepted an offer to join his former club Geelong as an assistant coach in 2024.

[16][17] Steven King co-owned a Geelong-based restaurant with fellow Geelong footballers Matthew Scarlett and Kent Kingsley called the George and Dragon Hotel from 2004–2007 until it changed name and ownership due to financial difficulty.