Why Mecole Hardman’s punt return — and Chiefs return — meant so much to his teammates

Patrick Mahomes had a problem when walking back to his locker about 20 minutes after Sunday night’s 31-17 home victory over the Los Angeles Chargers:

He couldn’t get there.

That was because about two dozen reporters surrounded the Chiefs’ newest acquisition nearby — a receiver who’d been allocated a locker stall between the team’s quarterbacks and running backs because he was acquired midweek.

The group overflowed in front of backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert’s space. And Mahomes’ as well.

“Mecole can’t be that popular by my locker,” Mahomes said out loud with a smile.

Mahomes knew the attention was warranted. His teammate Mecole Hardman — just four days after being traded from the New York Jets to rejoin the Chiefs — made two of the team’s biggest fourth-quarter plays to help secure a two-score win.

“It’s been great, man, just knowing the team wanted me back — especially going out and trading for me, it means a lot,” Hardman said. “They see something in me, believe in me a little bit, which is great.”

The receiver’s first contribution: A 50-yard punt return that Mahomes said “put the game away” with the Chiefs leading 24-17.

That sequence was even more impressive than it first looked, too. The Chiefs called a “safe return,” meaning the priority is ensuring the punter kicks the ball rather than setting up blocks.

Hardman said sometimes, though, seeing a “safe punt return” can cause special teams defenders to relax a bit. Either way, Hardman was determined to run this one back, with replays showing he made three guys miss before eventually stepping out of bounds at the Chiefs’ 35.

Teammates Travis Kelce, Jerick McKinnon and Willie Gay were behind Hardman seconds after, celebrating with him as he motioned to the crowd.

“Obviously, we traded for him for a reason,” receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling said. “He’s a helluva player.”

Hardman also helped the Chiefs later on the same drive.

On a third-and-6, Los Angeles blitzed Mahomes with man coverage across the back end. Hardman, who said he had “a few plays in there” this week after coming back to the team while “just waiting for Big Red (Coach Andy Reid) to dial me up,” knew this pass was designed to come his way.

Sure enough, Mahomes threw it up for Hardman, who secured the catch and a six-yard gain for the first down.

Running back Isiah Pacheco scored on the next snap, pushing the score to its eventual finale, 31-17.

So, Hardman was asked, what did it mean for the team to trust him in such a critical situation?

He answered by looking two lockers to his left, then starting an exchange with reporters still around him.

Hardman: “Pat, you trust me on third down?”

Mahomes: “What’s up?”

Hardman: “You trust me on third down?”

Mahomes: “Yeah, dude.”

Hardman then nodded back toward the group in front of him.

“OK. He trusts me on third down,” Hardman said with a grin, “so I’m good with it.”

Hardman, who spent his first four seasons with the Chiefs before signing with the Jets this offseason, certainly seemed excited to come back to Kansas City.

During his first practice back Wednesday, he leaped into the arms of teammate Skyy Moore on the practice field, embracing him before continuing drills.

Moore said the moment was special because Hardman was “like my big brother coming in.” He said the receiver also was a role model during his rookie campaign in 2022.

“It was just great to see him back. You can see he’s comfortable as he could be,” Moore said after Sunday’s win. “And I feel like Kansas City’s the spot for him right now, for sure.”

Valdes-Scantling, meanwhile, described having a “great friendship” with Hardman that had remained intact even after he left to join the Jets.

“He was one of the first guys I talked to when I got here. And so being able to bring him back and just enjoy his energy ... he’s a loud one,” Valdes-Scantling said. “But he’s energetic, and his play shows. He’s electric, and you saw that today.”

Reid, meanwhile, shared his admiration for what Hardman had accomplished this week. That included being away from the Chiefs for six months before quickly re-learning some of the offense.

“But Mecole is real smart — he’s a smart kid, innately smart kid,” Reid said. “It wasn’t hard for him to jump back in and pick up a few things that we had in the game plan and roll with those.”

Teammates also shared some satisfaction regarding Sunday’s events knowing what Hardman had experienced this season. The receiver had played just 28 offensive snaps for the Jets before the Chiefs acquired him last week, and Moore said those in KC’s locker room still knew he was talented.

“It’s impressive, because he didn’t have the season that he wanted in New York,” Mahomes said, “but to be able to come back, have confidence, not be down on himself and know that whenever he gets his opportunity, he’s going to do the most with it.”

This should only be the start. Hardman will likely integrate more into the offense as the season progresses, picking up additional playbook pages as he goes.

And even though he was speaking to reporters from an unfamiliar postgame spot, Hardman admitted on Sunday afternoon, he felt more like himself.

“It’s good to come in this locker room and help this team,” Hardman said. “So I’m happy about it.”