The Kansas City Chiefs selected Mecole Hardman in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He went on to help the Chiefs win two Super Bowls during his first four seasons in the NFL.
However, Hardman’s time in Kansas City appeared to come to an end in 2023 when he signed a deal with the New York Jets. The receiver finished his short stint with the Jets with one catch for six yards in five games before he was sent back to the Chiefs in October in exchange for a future late-round draft pick.
The former Georgia Bulldogs star had a poor showing in the Chiefs’ divisional round matchup with the Buffalo Bills, fumbling twice, with one resulting in a touchback. He finished the game with one reception for two yards.
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Mecole Hardman Jr., #12 of the Kansas City Chiefs, celebrates after catching the game-winning touchdown in overtime to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
But Hardman shined one the biggest stage — Super Bowl LVIII.
In what ended up being the final play of the season, Hardman cemented his name in Super Bowl history. He caught a pass from quarterback Patrick Mahomes in overtime to seal the Chiefs’ 25-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
TEXT SHOWS PATRICK MAHOMES’ CONFIDENCE LEVEL BEFORE BIG GAME: ‘I DECIDED WE ARE GOING TO WIN THE SUPER BOWL’
Hardman, now a three-time Super Bowl champion, is scheduled to enter the free agency market when the new league year begins in March. Hardman could resign with the Chiefs, or he could explore other teams.
“We’ll just see if they want me back,” Hardman said during a recent interview with NFL Total Access. “If not, it might be somewhere else, so we’ll see.”
Mecole Hardman Jr., #12 of the Kansas City Chiefs, celebrates after catching the game-winning touchdown in overtime to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
If Hardman ends up leaving Kansas City, he made it clear that he is not interested in a reunion with the Jets. “No,” Hardman emphatically responded to a question about a potential return to New York. “I won’t go back to the Jets.”
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The Chiefs’ upset over the Niners marked their second consecutive Super Bowl championship, but Mahomes already has his sights set on a third straight ring.
“Hey, we’re not done dawg,” a mic’d up Mahomes was heard saying as he celebrated the win with teammates and his family. “I want three. No one’s ever got three. . . . I want back-to-back-to-back.”
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