What Mecole Hardman said after catching Super Bowl-winning TD in OT
Mecole Hardman, a former Georgia Bulldog, secured victory for the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime of Super Bowl 58 with his third reception of the game
When the Kansas City Chiefs selected Mecole Hardman in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft, they envisioned him as a potential replacement for Tyreek Hill. However, the Chiefs allowed him to join the New York Jets during the recent offseason, where he signed a $4 million contract after playing minimally with the Jets.
In October, facing a shortage of wide receivers, the Chiefs reached an agreement with the Jets to reacquire Hardman. Despite only making one catch during his time with the Jets, Hardman put up an impressive performance in Super Bowl 58, catching three passes for 57 yards, including the crucial game-winning touchdown in overtime.
This unforgettable and somewhat surreal conclusion to his season was described by Hardman as a “roller coaster” post-game. However, he admitted that he couldn’t remember the final play that secured the Chiefs’ 25-22 triumph over the San Francisco 49ers, granting Hardman his second consecutive Super Bowl victory as a former Georgia Bulldog.
In a postgame interview alongside his quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Hardman’s temporary memory lapse was revealed when Mahomes shared a humorous anecdote about how Hardman initially didn’t realize he had caught the game-winning touchdown. Hardman confessed that he was so focused on the play that he essentially “blacked out” during the moment, only coming back to awareness when he saw Mahomes running towards him in celebration.
This amusing episode was retold by Hardman during his interview with the NFL on CBS panel on the field, further emphasizing the excitement and intensity of the Super Bowl victory.
"I caught that pass and I blacked out." – Mecole Hardman pic.twitter.com/ESd894cgU2
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) February 12, 2024
Describing the 2023-24 season as a “roller coaster” extends beyond just Mecole Hardman’s personal experience to include the Kansas City Chiefs as a whole. Throughout the season, the Chiefs faced underdog status in three consecutive playoff games and notably rallied from a 10-point deficit against San Francisco in the Super Bowl.
Reflecting on the team’s journey, Hardman conveyed to KSHB 41, a local Kansas City TV network, “We’ve faced challenges head-on. We encountered adversity, conquered it, and now we stand here as Super Bowl champions.”
One instance of adversity during the Super Bowl occurred immediately after Hardman’s pivotal 52-yard reception from Mahomes that positioned the Chiefs at the San Francisco nine-yard line. Following this play, Kansas City running back Isiah Pacheco fumbled on the subsequent play, adding to the ups and downs of the game.
As Hardman approaches unrestricted free agency once again this offseason, his performance in New York and contributions to the Chiefs may prompt both him and the Kansas City front office to reconsider their decision to let him leave previously.
