LAS VEGAS — Mecole Hardman started the season dreaming of winning a Super Bowl with the Jets. He actually ended it with a win with the Chiefs.
On Sunday night, Hardman caught the winning 3-yard touchdown in overtime to give the Chiefs a thrilling 25-22 victory over the 49ers.
Last week was a great end to a season that Hardman described as a “roller coaster.” The Jets signed him to a $4 million contract last offseason, barely used him after that, and traded him to the Chiefs in October.
“It’s been a roller coaster,” Hardman said that week. “Things definitely didn’t go the way I wanted them to. I think I just wasn’t on the same page with everyone. There’s no bad blood there. I’m happy for everyone there. I’m still good friends with some of them. I wish them all the best. I think things happened as expected.”
Hardman had three catches for 57 yards and a touchdown to win Sunday night’s game. He had a 52-yard catch early in the game.
The Chiefs marched down the field in overtime after the 49ers kicked a field goal to take a 22-19 lead. Mahomes’ 19-yard scramble put the Chiefs in scoring position. Travis Kelce then rumbled 7 yards to put the ball on the 3-yard line.
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Mahomes rolled to his right and threw to Hardman in front of the end zone, beginning the Chiefs’ celebration of back-to-back championships.
The Jets talked about Hardman playing a big role when they signed him, but he only played 28 snaps in five games and was inactive for the next game against the Jets.
“It was a little confusing,” Hardman said that week. “I really didn’t know what happened. Obviously they probably saw something different than what I saw.”
The Jets traded Hardman back to Kansas City, where he spent the past four seasons, in October in exchange for a 2025 sixth-round pick and a 2025 seventh-round pick. The trade worked out well for the Chiefs Sunday night.
