Chiefs' Mecole Hardman Won't Return from Knee Injury for 2025 NFL Playoffs, Reid Says

The Kansas City Chiefs will have to continue their chase for a third straight Super Bowl title without the hero from last year's Big Game.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters that wide receiver Mecole Hardman, who caught the game-winning touchdown in Super Bowl LVIII, will remain on injured reserve due to his knee injury and is officially out for the year.

Hardman hasn't played since going down with the injury on Nov. 29 in a win over the Las Vegas Raiders. He finished the year with just 12 catches for 90 yards while also adding 62 rushing yards and a touchdown on five carries. He also returned 20 punts for 203 yards and five kickoffs for 132 yards.

A six-year veteran, Hardman spent the first four years of his career in Kansas City before signing with the New York Jets prior to the 2023 campaign. However, he never found his footing in the Big Apple, recording just one catch in five games before the Jets traded him back to the Chiefs.

The trade would turn into a huge blessing for Hardman, as he captured his third career Super Bowl ring with Kansas City and reached legendary status for his walk-off touchdown catch that gave the Chiefs a 25-22 overtime win over the San Francisco 49ers.

The Chiefs are one win away from their third consecutive trip to the Super Bowl and will face the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship on Sunday. Rookie receiver Nikko Remigio has been deployed as the team's primary returner in Hardman's absence and is likely to remain in the role.

While Hardman will be disappointed to be on the sidelines for the remainder of the year, he will be rooting hard for Kansas City to pull off the first three-peat in modern NFL history.