Kansas City Chiefs hero admits fear team ‘gave up on him’ one game before Super Bowl

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Mecole Hardman yesterday sat down with the crew at The Pivot to take part in an exclusive interview to speak about his NFL journey and time on the Chiefs.

The recent Super Bowl LVIII hero caught the vital catch in overtime to ensure the Kansas City Chiefs became back-to-back world champions.

Yesterday, Hardman captured the headlines with his interview from a New York Jets perspective rather than a Chiefs.

Mecole Hardman’s controversial interview

This was due to his comments after his underwhelming stint at the Jets.

Hardman declared the Jets has ‘no standards’ after their four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers endured a season ending injury.

However, Hardman spoke about his time on the Chiefs and their most recent playoff success, which ended as champions.

Prior to the Super Bowl LVIII appearance, the second-round pick out of his home state Georgia had only managed two catches in the playoffs.

In the freezing temperature at Arrowhead Stadium, Hardman managed to haul in just one catch in their 26-7 win over the Miami Dolphins.

Things did not get much better for the wide receiver in the AFC Divisional match up against their newly formed rivals the Buffalo Bills.

The 25-year-old did secure his only target of the contest for a short 2-yards. However, the Chiefs rejoiced in Buffalo 27-24.

Going into the AFC Championship game, the Kansas City Chiefs were the underdogs against the number one seed Baltimore Ravens. Spearheaded by the regular season MVP Lamar Jackson.

The Chiefs proved to the themselves and the world why they deserved a trip to the Las Vegas strip with an impressive 17-10 victory.

‘Gave up on me’

Although, Hardman now felt the lowest he had been throughout the playoffs, as he was not targeted once in all four quarters.

The Chiefs 2019 draft pick opened up on The Pivot interview to Ryan Clark.

Recalling what the feeling was like on the sideline against the Ravens in the Championship round: “The Ravens game you don’t play that much, two or three plays, damn, maybe they gave up on me, you know what I’m saying.

Hardman felt in a sense, the play calls on the offence had casted him aside.

Whilst the celebrations were in fall flow after winning the Lamar Hunt Trophy, Hardman was disappointed in his own performance and lack of usage.

All was a distant memory by the time overtime concluded in the Super Bowl. The 2019 Pro Bowler caught a 52-yard dime and the overtime touchdown on the grandest stage.

From being the forgotten man to the favorite man in the building; Hardman made sure the Chiefs were the first franchise to win successive Super Bowls for the first time in 20 years.

‘Reid Knows’

When reflecting on the Ravens game, Hardman was understanding of head coach Andy Reid.

Acknowledging his coach’s’ footballing brain: “When a play gets called, you know OK, coach Reid knows what he’s doing.”

Despite only being 25 years old, Hardman has already achieved a feat in the NFL that only others will dream off.

Hardman certainly does not regret being traded back to the Chiefs after the short spell at the Jets.