Mecole Hardman's release shows why the Chiefs can’t look back anymore

Former Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman did not survive the Green Bay Packers' final roster cutdowns, as the 2019 second-rounder was released today. Hardman had two stints across six seasons with the Chiefs from 2019 to 2022 and was acquired in a mid-season trade from the New York Jets in 2023.

During his time in Kansas City, Hardman was named to one Pro Bowl as a return man, played in three Super Bowls (missing LVII and LIX with injuries), and won two of them. He was a central piece in one of the most memorable moments in NFL history with his overtime walk-off touchdown reception in Super Bowl LVIII.

In total, Hardman recorded 204 receptions for 2,584 yards and 19 touchdowns in his regular and postseason career as a Chief.

Hardman's time in Kansas City officially ended when he signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Packers in March. Throughout his summer in Green Bay, Hardman struggled to make an impact, including a forgettable preseason performance against the Jets.

Hardman may also have had trouble fitting into the Packers’ young and crowded receiving room. All of Green Bay's receivers were drafted in 2022 or later, and the team selected two more within the first three rounds last April. It appeared as if Hardman, entering his seventh season, simply did not fit into the Packers’ 2025 plans.

With the Chiefs recently welcoming Derrick Nnadi back via a trade with the Jets, some may wonder if they could also bring back another familiar face in Hardman. Theoretically, it’s possible, considering they did it once already in 2023. But while a reunion would be great for team culture and the locker room, it doesn’t make sense from a football standpoint.

Hardman's performance and availability have gradually declined in recent years. In 2022, he suffered a pelvic injury that sidelined him for the second half of the season and the postseason. When he was re-acquired from the Jets in 2023, he recorded just 15 receptions for 124 yards and no regular-season touchdowns while also missing five games due to a thumb injury.

Last season, Hardman suffered a knee injury in Week 13 and didn’t appear again the rest of the year. Even when he was healthy, his role was limited, finishing with just 12 catches for 90 yards on 14 targets.

The bigger issue is how little sense Hardman makes in the Chiefs’ current receiving room. With Rashee Rice available to start the season, alongside Xavier Worthy, Marquise Brown, Jalen Royals, and JuJu Smith-Schuster, Hardman’s best-case scenario would be as the sixth wideout on the depth chart. Even then, others competing for that role bring more to the table.

Tyquan Thornton has been with the team all summer and built strong chemistry with Patrick Mahomes, while Nikko Remigio flashed juice in the return game with long postseason runs last year. Given Thornton’s performance this offseason, leaving him off the roster just to bring Hardman back would seem almost unthinkable.

There’s no question that Mecole Hardman had a successful career with the Chiefs and carried himself as the ultimate professional throughout his tenure. Still, the Chiefs should avoid falling into the habit of bringing back old friends for nostalgia’s sake, something that may have already been at play in the Nnadi trade. That point feels especially relevant with two other former Chiefs, Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, also cut on Tuesday by the Saints and Seahawks.

Chiefs fans will always be grateful for Hardman’s contributions over the better part of six years. But all good things eventually come to an end, and it makes the most sense that his time in Kansas City is one of them.