The Kansas City Chiefs became the first team since Tom Brady‘s New England Patriots, almost 20 years ago, to win the Super Bowl in back-to-back seasons. Despite trailing by 10 at point, Patrick Mahomes rallied the offense and the defense did just enough to limit Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers to win 25-22 in overtime.
Mahomes took home his third Super Bowl MVP after orchestrating a game-tying field goal drive with under two minutes to play in regulation, and then leading the Chiefs on a touchdown drive after the 49ers scored a field goal on their first drive on overtime.
Mecole Hardman Scored the Winning Touchdown for the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII
Brock Purdy and the 49ers made the controversial decision to take the ball first in overtime. Teams used to do this all the time when overtime was sudden death, first team to score wins; but now both teams get a chance to score. Typically, teams choose to defer in an effort to ensure they are the team with the ball at the end of the game.
After a seven-and-a-half minute drive that ended in a field goal, giving the 49ers a 22-19 lead, Mahomes marched his offense down the field. Tight end Travis Kelce, who finished the game with nine receptions for 93 yards, got the team down to the three yard line following big plays by Mahomes and rookie wide receiver Rashee Rice.
Then, with three second left, Mahomes rolled out on a play-action call and lofted a soft pass to a wide open Mecole Hardman for the game-winning touchdown.
Kansas City Chiefs Tight End Travis Kelce Trolls the New York Jets for Trading Mecole Hardman
Mecole Hardman may have ended the season with a Super Bowl while wearing a Chiefs uniform, but that is not how he started the season. Hardman signed with the New York Jets in free agency following four successful seasons with Kansas City, who drafted him in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
In five games with the Jets, who lost starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers for the season four snaps into Week One, Hardman was targeted just three times, catching one pass for six yards. The Jets ended up trading Hardman back to Kansas City along with a 2025 seventh round pick in exchange for a 2025 sixth round pick.
How fortunate for Hardman! He could have spent the year on the dumpster fire that was the Jets, but instead he finished it with another Super Bowl title.
After the game, Travis Kelce was asked about Hardman’s touchdown, and he took the opportunity to drag the Jets for giving up on him:
Travis Kelce said those in the Chiefs locker room were ecstatic when Mecole Hardman rejoined the team. Tonight, he scored a Super Bowl-winning TD.
“It brought me to tears that he was the man who got us this ring, man. … Everyone counted him out. The Jets counted him out.” pic.twitter.com/pa7DikiWZh
— Brandon Zenner (@KWCHBrandon) February 12, 2024
“I’m just happy for my guy, man, I’ll tell ya, it brought me to tears that he was the man that got us this ring, man. You know, sometimes the media world can be pretty harsh on a guy…
“But um, Mecole, he’s one of my favorite teammates ever because he just keeps showing up, and he keeps trying to find ways to win. He had a huge play for us early on that kind of sparked us, and then he found a way to win the game for us.
“Everyone 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. He’s got that kind of personality.
Hardman is going to be a free agent once again this offseason, so it will be interesting to see if the Chiefs allow him to go in free agency or bring him back. It certainly seems like Kelce and the rest of the team would prefer the latter.
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