Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman did something spectacular in a win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, capturing a piece of NFL history.
Hardman was heavily involved in the Chiefs’ offensive play calls, touching the ball six times, finishing with 60 scrimmage yards, and scoring three touchdowns – two on the ground and one through the air.
Hardman’s big day helped the Chiefs overcome a 10-0 deficit to defeat the 49ers 44-23. It was also his first career multi-score game that happened to make the NFL record books, thanks to a particular stat that no receiver has touched before.
According to NFL Research, Hardman became the first WR in the Super Bowl era to score two or more rushing touchdowns and one or more passing touchdowns.
Hardman’s first score was an 8-yard pass in the first quarter that ended a 12-play drive after Patrick Mahomes threw an interception on the Chiefs’ opening possession. The score brought Kansas City to within three after falling behind 10-0.
On the Chiefs’ following possession, Hardman got his second score of the game after Kansas City’s defense forced San Francisco to settle for a field goal. From the 25-yard line, Hardman took a handoff on a Jet Sweep and sprinted to the end zone. The score gave Kansas City the lead, and the Chiefs stayed in front for the rest of the game.
Hardman’s third touchdown was on another Jet Sweep that turned into a three-yard score in the fourth quarter, putting the Chiefs ahead 35-23.
After the game, head coach Andy Reid praised Hardman for his three-touchdown performance.
“I thought Mecole did a heck of a job going fast, being patient, and then hitting it,” he said. “Then our guys blocked it well. I think he had three touchdowns on basically the same play call.”
The Chiefs have waited for Hardman to step up and have a game like the one he had Sunday. With Tyreek Hill no longer at their disposal, the fourth-year veteran from Georgia showed he could be the versatile playmaker the Chiefs need him to be.
