With just three seconds left in the second Super Bowl overtime in NFL history and a roller coaster of a season, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman clinched the Chiefs game-winning Super Bowl touchdown. As the Chiefs were trailing behind the 49ers by three points, quarterback Patrick Mahomes connected with Hardman in a three-yard touchdown pass in the final seconds of Super Bowl LVIII as they rallied to beat the 49ers 25-22.
WHAT THEY GONE SAY NOW!!!!! #SUPERBOWLCHAMP3X !!!!! #WALKOFFF ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️ pic.twitter.com/HEHBeOLsgv
— Mecole Hardman Jr. (@MecoleHardman4) February 12, 2024
The wide receiver’s catch secured the Chiefs’ third Super Bowl title in the last five years, granting Mahomes and Hardman their third Super Bowl rings. Last night, the Chiefs became the first back-to-back Super Bowl champions in 19 years since the New England Patriots accomplished this feat in 2004 and 2005.
While Mahomes received his third Super Bowl MVP last night as he led his team to a victory, the Chiefs could not have won the title without Mecole Hardman, who played a pivotal role in last night’s game.
The 25-year-old had a roller coaster of a season as he signed with the New York Jets last off-season on March 23, 2023, after securing a $4 million contract. Before moving to the Jets, Hardman spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Kansas City franchise.
The Chiefs drafted the wide receiver from the University of Georgia as the 56th overall pick in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. In his first NFL season, Hardman would go on to compete in Super Bowl LIV and clinch the title against the 49ers after defeating them 31-20.
In his first four NFL seasons, the 25-year-old would compete in three Super Bowls and secure two rings before moving his career to New York. At the beginning of the 2023-24 NFL season, Hardman had pictured winning this year’s Super Bowl title with the New York franchise, but little did he know that he would return to help his first NFL team clinch their third title in five years.
Mecole Hardman started this season on the Jets and was traded back to the Chiefs…
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 12, 2024
He just scored the game-winning TD to win the Super Bowl 😱 pic.twitter.com/cWwicF37DY
Throughout his brief time with the New York franchise, the Jets barely utilized the wide receiver, as he only secured one catch in his entire career with the franchise.
On October 18, 2023, after a lucrative deal for the sixth-round selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, Hardman returned to Kansas City, where he was greeted with open arms. While the 25-year-old only secured one catch in his time with the Jets, Hardman clinched three catches for 57 yards last night.
The wide receiver made one of the game’s biggest plays when the Chiefs were down by three points as he connected with Mahomes and secured a 52-yard catch, placing the Chiefs on the San Francisco 9-yard line in the first half of the game. Unfortunately, Hardman’s impressive catch was overshadowed in the following play as Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco fumbled the ball and gave the 49ers possession.
Mahomes connects with Hardman deep!
— NFL (@NFL) February 12, 2024
📺: #SBLVIII on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/dClcEDViWl pic.twitter.com/yUc00MtP84
In the final seconds of the game, Hardman showcased his remarkable skills yet again when he secured the game-winning touchdown with three seconds left in the Super Bowl. After securing the touchdown, the wide receiver exclaimed that he “blacked out” and did not realize that he clinched the Super Bowl title for his team. When he saw Patrick Mahomes running up to him, reality hit, and the 25-year-old realized that he secured his third Super Bowl title of his career.
Mecole Hardman had no clue he caught the game-winning TD until @PatrickMahomes told him 😂 pic.twitter.com/ZT9V37H8E1
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) February 12, 2024
In his post-game interview, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce applauded Hardman and praised him, exclaiming that it “brought him to tears” that the wide receiver is the player who secured their Super Bowl title as Hardman continues to show up for the Chiefs franchise and put all his effort into winning games.
Travis Kelce said those in the Chiefs locker room were ecstatic when Mecole Hardman rejoined the team. Tonight, he scored a Super Bowl-winning TD.
— Brandon Zenner (@KWCHBrandon) February 12, 2024
"It brought me to tears that he was the man who got us this ring, man. … Everyone counted him out. The Jets counted him out." pic.twitter.com/pa7DikiWZh
The Chiefs entered last night’s game as the villains and the underdogs since the 49ers were favored to win by 2 points, and the franchise was favored at -128 on the moneyline while Kansas City was +108. Hardman managed to change the fate of the Chiefs and became the franchise’s hero with just three seconds left in the Super Bowl.
