Former Georgia Bulldog and "NFL Draft bust" ends up winning Super Bowl LVIII for the Chiefs
The redemption story of Mecole Hardman is truly something special. He went from complete pariah with zero yards from scrimmage and two fumbles on four touches through the first two playoff games this year to winning Super Bowl LVIII for the Kansas City Chiefs! What an incredible turnaround! But the redemption story for Hardman has […]
The redemption story of Mecole Hardman is truly something special. He went from complete pariah with zero yards from scrimmage and two fumbles on four touches through the first two playoff games this year to winning Super Bowl LVIII for the Kansas City Chiefs! What an incredible turnaround!
But the redemption story for Hardman has layers to it. This isn't the first roller coaster ride he's had since entering the NFL.
When Mecole Hardman was drafted out of Georgia in round two of the 2019 NFL Draft expectations were high. The Kansas City Chiefs were unsure whether they would have Tyreek Hill available that season due to off-field issues and Hardman was expected to come in to be a potential replacement immediately if necessary.
As it turned out, Hill only missed four games season, but Hardman kicked things off with a bang in his absence. Hardman grabbed six receptions for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders and Ravens games alone. Of course from there expectations for the young former Georgia Bulldog were set even higher.
Unfortunately after his strong start Hardman never matched that level of production in a two-week span ever again for the Chiefs. And when he started to show promise in the final year of his rookie contract he suffered a strange abdominal injury that left him on the sidelines for the rest of the season. At the end of 2022 the Chiefs let him walk without re-signing him and he was force to sign with another team.
Of course after wasting away on the miserable Jets for half of 2023 the Chiefs reacquired Hardman in a pick swap trade. Hope returned for a potential bounce back, but Hardman didn't catch more than three passes or exceed 13 receiving yards in a single game until Week 18.
And then came his two-fumble fiasco against Buffalo that nearly cost the Chiefs the game and an early playoff departure.
"Would Mecole Hardman even make the active game day roster for the Super Bowl?"
And then, boom, it happens. On just two plays, Hardman totally redeems himself. First, Mahomes found him deep downfield on a 52-yard reception in the second quarter, creating the most explosive play of the game. And then of course in overtime, on the genius "corn dog with a little mustard and ketchup" play call, Mecole scores in dramatic, game-winning fashion.
Mecole Hardman's comeback story with the Chiefs is the kind of feel good story sports are all about. And although Hardman is a free agent now, after winning Super Bowl LVIII for them one would imagine he finds his way back to Kansas City in 2024.
