Mecole Hardman makes instant impact in return to Chiefs with sensational punt return
Welcome back, Mecole.
Just days after being acquired in a trade with the New York Jets, Mecole Hardman gave the Chiefs a big lift at a key moment of their 31-17 win Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Hardman, who had signed with the Jets as a free agent earlier this year, played sparingly with New York and was glad to return to the Chiefs. He was part of just 28 snaps for the Jets and had one catch, as CBS Sports’ Jim Nantz noted.
On Sunday, he made a big impact for the Chiefs, the team that drafted him in 2019.
The Chiefs led 24-17 in the fourth quarter and had forced the Chargers to punt. LA had hoped to pin the Chiefs deep in their own territory. Instead, Hardman ripped off a 50-yard return, taking the ball from the Chiefs’ 15-yard line to the Chargers’ 35.
The Chiefs converted the short field into a touchdown and Hardman contributed on the drive. He caught a 6-yard pass from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
That matched Hardman’s receiving yardage from his time with the Jets.
“You feel the energy from that guy being in the room,” Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce told CBS Sports’ Tracy Wolfson after the game. “I don’t know how he got out of New York, but I’m so glad that he’s with us. And obviously, he came up absolutely huge for us there in the fourth quarter. Not only just the punt return, but a huge first-down catch.
“I’m just proud of him. I’m happy for the guy. He’s back with us and I’m glad we got him for the rest of the year.”
This story was originally published October 22, 2023 at 6:19 PM.
