Source: SB LVIII hero Hardman returns to Chiefs

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mecole Hardman, who caught the game-winning touchdown in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII, has agreed to re-sign with the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year contract, a source said.

He joins a much different group of Chiefs receivers from the one he left at the end of last season. Since then, the Chiefs have signed free agent Marquise Brown, drafted Xavier Worthy in the first round and released Marquez Valdes-Scantling.

Hardman’s 3-yard touchdown reception from Patrick Mahomes in overtime of the Super Bowl was the signature play of his career, clinching a 25-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He also caught a 52-yard pass earlier in the game.

Hardman, 26, split the 2023 season between the Chiefs and the New York Jets. He signed with the Jets as a free agent last year after four seasons in Kansas City but wasn’t playing much in New York.

The Chiefs brought him back in a midseason trade. In six regular-season games with the Chiefs, Hardman caught 14 passes for 118 yards. He also missed five games after the trade with a thumb injury. He caught one pass for 6 yards in four games with the Jets.

Hardman played in all four Chiefs postseason games, with five catches for 62 yards.

After the season, in an appearance on “The Pivot” podcast, Hardman was highly critical of the Jets and their culture. He said he was so disgruntled in New York that he refused to return punts in a game and begged to be traded. He also said he talked to Chiefs general manager Brett Veach and Mahomes, telling them to “come get me,” before he was traded. The comments caught the attention of the Jets, with general manager Joe Douglas saying at the scouting combine that “those comments definitely resonated with us.”

Hardman also denied reports that he leaked the Jets’ offensive game plans to the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.

“There were FALSE accusations made about me and MY CHARACTER!” Hardman wrote on X on March 1. “To set the record straight, I have never and would never leak game plans to another team. I have never been a person to give an opponent an upper hand. I always want to win no matter the circumstances!!!!”

He joined the Chiefs in 2019 as a second-round draft pick. He was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie for his kick returns.