Mecole Hardman recalls legendary Super Bowl TD, night in Vegas

They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, but not for Mecole Hardman. The Chiefs wide receiver had a moment Sunday night that’ll stay with him forever as he hauled in the game-winner of Super Bowl LVIII in overtime.

Hardman says he blacked out in the moment. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes says Hardman was the final person at Alliegiant Stadium to become aware that Kansas City had just won the big game. Either way, Hardman’s 3-yard score – lined up on the right side of the formation, motioning in before starting back out toward the sideline with just seconds remaining in the first overtime only to find his way into the end zone with ease – will have him in the history books.

“It feels great. It’s an undescribable feeling, that’s all you can say about it,” Hardman said during an early appearance from Las Vegas on The Today Show. “I don’t remember none of it. When I caught the pass, I blacked out for a second. I guess the magnitude of the moment got to me, but all I can remember is after I caught it, I see Pat running to me like, ‘You’re a champion!’ I thought, ‘Oh what?! Ok, bet,’ and I started celebrating. But I don’t remember anything after I caught the ball.”

For Hardman, the moment was the perfect way to go out after a season that hasn’t been the kindest to him. After starting in his career in Kansas City, the Elberton, Ga. native signed with the New York Jets in the offseason as a free agent. Expectations were big in the Big Apple with Aaron Rodgers in town. He gets hurt in the season-opener, Hardman gets off to a slow start (1 catch in 5 games) and he’s traded just over a month in for the first time in his career.

Good news for the former Georgia pass catcher, Hardman was headed back to where it all began for him. The Chiefs were in need of help at receiver, and Hardman offered somebody that should know the system. Still, his stats weren’t anything special, entering Sunday night with 16 catches 123 yards in nine games. He was also accountable for a key fumble in the playoffs – one that gave the Buffalo Bills a chance in the Divisional Round.

So, the Super Bowl touchdown not only was huge for the magnitude of the moment, but it was also big for Hardman to finish his season off the right way – finding the end zone for the first time in 2023-24.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet I don’t think,” Hardman said about his season journey. “The road is so much like a roller coaster, just up and down, getting traded for the first time in my career and going back to the team I got drafted by and being welcomed and ending here by winning the Super Bowl, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It definitely hasn’t sunk in yet, but I’m waiting for it to happen.”

“We’ve been through the battles. I feel like we hit adversity and hit it head on, but defeated it. Now we’re here, Super Bowl champs,” Hardman shared on the field to KSHB 41. “… The last two we won, it was like everybody expected us to win it. This one, everybody was counting us out, everybody said we couldn’t do this and couldn’t do that, and now look at us, Super Bowl champs three times.”

Hardman and his teammates said they’re ready to celebrate back home in Kansas City, but of course the night of brings on some fun too.

“They say what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Had a little after party with the team, and then I kind of ventured off and did a little something here and there, but I’m here though,” Hardman with a smile on his face on Monday morning.

Hardman becomes just the fifth Georgia Bulldog to score a touchdown in a Super Bowl, joining Fran Tarkenton, Terrell Davis, Hines Ward and Sony Michel. Former Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford has also thrown for a touchdown in the big game.

Super Bowl LVIII marked the 23rd straight to feature a former Georgia player with five in total suiting up. 49ers wide receiver Chris Conley had one catch for 18 yards, a pair of special teams tackles and a downed punt on the 1-yard line. San Francisco tight end Charlie Woerner also had a special teams tackle and several key blocks while Robert Beal also suited up. Joining Hardman on the winning end was defensive lineman Malik Herring who had a tackle, claiming a second straight Lombardi Trophy in the process. It is the third Super Bowl ring of Hardman’s career, winning a previous one – also over the 49ers – in 2020.