Kansas City Chiefs veteran appears to steal jersey number from Tennessee Vols rookie
Wide receiver Mecole Hardman, a former Georgia Bulldogs standout, re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs this week after going unsigned during the first couple of months of the offseason. Hardman played for the Chiefs from 2019 to 2022 before signing with the New York Jets ahead of the 2023 season. The former Georgia wide receiver […]
Wide receiver Mecole Hardman, a former Georgia Bulldogs standout, re-signed with the Kansas City Chiefs this week after going unsigned during the first couple of months of the offseason.
Hardman played for the Chiefs from 2019 to 2022 before signing with the New York Jets ahead of the 2023 season.
The former Georgia wide receiver played in five games for the Jets last season before he was traded back to the Chiefs.
Hardman was present at Kansas City's minicamp on Friday after re-signing with the Chiefs. And he was wearing a familiar number — 17.
The only problem is that Chiefs rookie cornerback Kamal Hadden, a former Tennessee Vols standout, has been wearing No. 17 all offseason.
NFL teams are allowed to have players in the same jersey number during the offseason (as long as they play on opposite sides of the ball). But as A to Z Sports' Charles Goldman notes, if both players make the 53-man roster, one will have to switch jersey numbers.
When Hardman played for the Chiefs from 2019 to 2022, he wore No. 17.
After he was rescued from the Jets last season, Hardman wore No. 12 because wide receiver Richie James had No. 17.
Hadden was assigned No. 17 earlier this offseason after he was selected by the Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Even though Hadden was assigned the number before Hardman re-signed, it's hard to imagine the former Vol getting to keep the number over a veteran.
Especially since Hardman appears to have a collection of jewelry featuring the No. 17.
Hadden's focus is almost certainly on making the team and not what number he's wearing. But it's still a reminder that as a rookie in the NFL, you don't get the same perks as veterans.
Former Vols QB details wild season that includes Peyton Manning, Morgan Wallen, and running from autograph seekers with Hendon Hooker
2022 was an insane time at Tennessee
