Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman’s game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII prompted teammate Travis Kelce to blast the Jets for trading him earlier in 2023.
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce was on cloud nine after teammate Mecole Hardman sealed their Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.
Super Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes put Hardman in motion on 1st & goal and found him free in the end zone with six seconds to go in overtime, immortalizing Hardman as a hero of the night.
As a result, Kelce pounced on the opportunity to take a shot at the New York Jets’ front office for regrettably trading Hardman midseason.
Travis Kelce makes Jets rue trading Mecole Hardman
As Brian Costello of the New York Post shared on X, Kelce had this to say about the clear mistake the Jets made in his eyes:
Travis Kelce on Mecole Hardman: “the Jets counted him out.”
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) February 12, 2024
The Jets only put Hardman in position to reel in a measley one reception for six yards in five games. Jets head coach Robert Saleh favored Allen Lazard and Xavier Gibson as supplementary options next to Garrett Wilson and relegated Hardman to the sidelines.
Kelce defending Hardman after the latter proved his old team wrong only added to Hardman’s big 55-yard performance on the affair.
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What led up to Hardman’s heroic touchdown?
Knowing he could still contribute and help a team contend, Hardman spoke on more than one occasion throughout the early parts of the year about how his reduced role with the Jets blew him away, and not in a good way.
He said this to the Post’s Jared Schwartz regarding his nonexistent role back on Sept. 20, 2023:
“Very surprising, honestly. But I’m just here to do my role. When they need me, they need me. If we’re winning games, I can’t complain.”
Hardman also scratched his head at the Jets’ reason for trading him on X about a month later:
Hmmmm 😶😶😶 https://t.co/nHskZxFD5U
— Mecole Hardman Jr. (@MecoleHardman4) October 23, 2023
With all of that now in the past, Kelce and Hardman can now enjoy their third NFL ring together and make light of the Jets’ questionable decision.
