If the Kansas City Chiefs are to win the Super Bowl and secure a sensational ‘three-peat’, they are going to have to do it without Mecole Hardman.
The man who had the walk-off, Super Bowl-winning touchdown last year in Las Vegas against San Francisco 49ers was ruled out for the rest of the season by head coach Andy Reid on Wednesday.
The wide receiver has been sidelined with a knee issue that needed surgery in early December and the Chiefs have now accepted that his recovery will not be in time for the Super Bowl in New Orleans on Feb. 9.
Speaking to media Wednesday ahead of this weekend’s massive showdown against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium, Reid said that Hardman is going to remain on the Injured Reserve list.
His 21-day practice window was opened before the Week 18 game against Denver Broncos, the final game of the regular season.
The 26-year-old will now turn his attention to the 2025 campaign.
The Chiefs will be without Super Bowl hero Mecole Hardman for the rest of the season
Hardman took the catch that won the Super Bowl for the Chiefs in Vegas last season – here, he is pictured celebrating with Taylor Swift as teammate Travis Kelce looks on
Last year, Hardman endured a whirlwind campaign having started the season on the New York Jets before being traded back to the Chiefs after only six games.
But after being cut adrift by a team that ended up failing to make the playoffs after quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles, he ended the season as a champion who took the winning catch for his team to win a second straight Super Bowl.
Travis Kelce heaped praise on Hardman after that win in Vegas and criticized the Jets for letting go of him.
‘It brought me to tears seeing that he was the man that he was the man that got us this ring,’ Kelce said.
‘And he keeps trying to find ways to win. Had a huge play for us early on that kind of sparked us, and on top of that, found a way to win the game for us.
‘Mecole, he’s one of my favorite teammates ever just because he keeps showing up.
‘When everybody counted him out, even the Jets counted him out, and we were so excited when he got back in the building because he’s the kind of guy that brings everybody together.’
The Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 23-14 on Saturday, with tight end Kelce signaling his return to top form with a touchdown and seven receptions for 177 yards.
Hardman returned to the Chiefs midway through last season from the New York Jets
The Bills, meanwhile, won a thriller against the Baltimore Ravens in snowy Buffalo.
The winner of Bills vs Chiefs will play the winner of Philadelphia Eagles against Washington Commanders.
The Eagles beat the Rams last weekend while Jayden Daniels and the Commanders stunned the Detroit Lions on the road.
