Chiefs WR Mecole Hardman describes third return to Kansas City
SAINT JOSEPH, Mo. — The Super Bowl LVIII hero has returned once again to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Seems like Mecole Hardman just can’t stay away from being a Kansas City Chief. After catching a Super Bowl-winning touchdown, why would he?
The 2019 second-round pick has spent all but five games with the Chiefs when he decided to sign with the New York Jets last season. Before the signing, he was a key piece in the Chiefs’ first two Super Bowls contributing on offense and in the return game.
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Just like the Jets organization though, his hopes for the season fell apart with quarterback Aaron Rodgers tearing his Achilles in the first four snaps of the season. A midseason trade brought him back to Kansas City where he played in six games and caught the last football of the 2023 season with his game-winning walk-off catch in overtime of the Super Bowl.
Hardman was on a one-year deal when he was traded to the Chiefs, but after looking at options in free agency, he returned to the place where he helped win three Super Bowls in five years.
“I had a few options man, but I guess this one made more sense, just more comfortable, been here my whole career,” Hardman said on the first day of full training camp practice on Sunday.
“Just wanted to make sure everything made sense to me on my end. So it made sense. I know the system, I know the coaches. Very, very familiar with, the scheme, everything going on. [Chiefs head coach Andy Reid] has a good way of putting me on the field and using me in certain situations, so I’m excited for it. Just want to come out here to get better and establish that role.”
The connection Hardman feels to Reid and the Chiefs’ organization is reciprocated as well.
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“He’s got a great attitude for a guy returning with the six years of experience that he has – or going into six years of experience,” Reid said about Hardman.
“He’s got an idea of how things work, he’s smart, he knows the routes and the ins and outs of the routes, and he’s a good communicator so he’s able to talk to the guys, and then he’s working his tail off. I give him credit for how he’s approaching (everything).”
Being the Super Bowl hero thrusts you into the spotlight. Hardman went straight to late-night talk shows and new endorsement deals following the game.
“I believe you’ll capitalize on certain opportunities after the Super Bowl,” he said.
“But it’s kind of like one of those things you enjoy, then after that, you got to get back to business, get back to working out, get stronger, faster and so you can get ready for this camp like this.”
“Offseason was fun. I had my daughter, so I was around the family a lot this offseason and just trying to figure out the next step. It was cool – glad that the Super Bowl happened, but now you know that’s in the past now, so you got to just move forward and go from there.”
One of those opportunities is an appearance as an actor in the new Hallmark movie “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story“. It’s a new venture that he’s been looking forward to for quite some time.
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“They just hit me up and asked me if I wanted to be in it, I guess. I had no idea about it,” Hardman said with a laugh.
“I think it’s a good opportunity because I always wanted to act. That’s one of my, I guess one of my goals is to be in a movie. So I guess that I guess I can complete that, check that list.
“But ultimately I want to actually be in the bigger movie, bigger role type thing. So we’ve been working on that for the last couple of years trying to get around the right people, the right rooms so it definitely was a good opportunity, good starting point.”
After some different offensive weapons over the past few seasons, the Chiefs are back to a speedy arsenal with Hardman, Hollywood Brown, and first-round rookie Xavier Worthy along with Rashee Rice, who Hardman called “a bulldog, like a horse to do all the dirty work inside”, Kadarius Toney, Skyy Moore, and Justin Watson.
Mahomes showed some of the explosiveness off with balls to almost all of his receivers on the first day of camp. With an experienced room that can bring along any young/new players, the Chiefs offense should once again terrorize NFL defenses.
“Everybody is collected together, we all feed off each other,” Hardman said.
“We got a great room. Everybody knows what’s going on, they know their role. Training camp gone really establish everybody’s roles. Once we get that we all can, thrive in each other’s roles.”
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