Only a few sports stories can compare to Mecole Hardman’s comeback journey. After the New York Jets lost Aaron Rodgers, it appeared that he would spend the rest of the 2023 season on the sideline.
However, he found new life in his professional career once the Kansas City Chiefs re-signed him and he became a critical part in the team’s Super Bowl victory.
With Hardman at the top of the world, it’s almost reasonable for him to take a few shots at the squad that nearly ended his professional career.
Mecole Hardman insults New York Jets following Super Bowl LVIII victory.
Mike Luciano of the Jet Press writes on Hardman’s time with the AFC East club after Aaron Rodgers was injured, and what he now thinks of the team where he hardly made an effect.
Following Rodgers’ injury, the Jets benched Hardman and gave him very little playing time. By the middle of the season, Hardman would be dealt back to the Chiefs. While he was mostly unproductive, the fast deep threat came into his own in Super Bowl LVIII.
When questioned about his cameo with the Jets earlier in the season, Hardman said, “Don’t remind me”. It appears that riding Mahomes’ coattails to another ring was a better use of his time than watching Zach Wilson’s passes float over his head.
To say Hardman’s Jets performance was underwhelming is an understatement of the year. In six games without a single start, he was only targeted once for six yards.
When he returned to Andy Reid’s more familiar scheme in Kansas City, his numbers did not immediately improve. In the final six games of the season, he had 14 receptions for 118 yards.
However, he and the rest of Chiefs Kingdom will argue that his Super Bowl performance is what really matters. He had three receptions for 57 yards in his career’s biggest game. This contains the touchdown that secured his third Super Bowl ring.
New York Jets fans could only wish that it was Aaron Jones flick that pass to the speedy wideout.
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