When Mecole Hardman signed with the Jets on a one-year deal this offseason he expected to be competing for his third career Lombardi Trophy.

Fast forward just eight months later, and the speedy wide receiver was back in the Super Bowl for the second consecutive season, but again as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Hardman didn't make much of an impact early on in the thrilling, tight game with the San Francisco 49ers, but when it mattered the most, he was able to come through for his team.

Trailing 22-19 on the second possession in overtime, the speedy wide receiver broke wide open in the flat on a perfectly designed play and caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Super Bowl LVIII MVP Patrick Mahomes to secure the 25-22 win.

"It feels great," Hardman said on CBS postgame. "I ain't gonna lie, I caught that pass at the end and I just kind of blacked out. I didn't know what was going on until I saw Patrick running at me and then I was like oh we just won okay let's go celebrate."

Hardman's time with the Jets was short-lived, as he was surprisingly underutilized in a struggling offense, accumulating just one catch and three targets across 28 snaps over the first five weeks of the season.

His name quickly began surfacing in trade rumors, and New York, of course, ended up sending him back to Kansas City in a swap of late-round picks. While the former second-rounder didn't make much of an impact during the regular season, he came through for his team on the brightest stage.

After such a disappointing start to his fifth NFL season, Hardman finished Super Bowl LVIII with three catches for 57 yards and the game-winning touchdown.

Popular in the Community