Covering University of Georgia athletics and football has many perks and pros but there a few cons. Very few but one of which is not really getting to sit down and just watch and enjoy a complete football game during the college football season. After the Bulldogs wrapped up the 2020 Sugar Bowl with a 26-14 victory over the Baylor Bears and I got back to the Peach State from NOLA, I looked forward to sitting down and watching some games. Circled on my calendar was the College Football Playoff National Championship as well as the NFL Conference Championships and Super Bowl LIV. Being a long-suffering Atlanta Falcons fan, I put my energy into pulling for teams with former UGA players; so, that made me a defacto Kansas City Chiefs fan.
Which, long story short, brings me to former Elbert County High School football star and UGA wide receiver, special teams phenom Mecole Hardman, Jr., who has had quite the 2019 rookie season in the NFL.
After deciding to forgo his senior season and declare for the 2019 NFL Draft, Hardman was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round at pick No. 56 overall. He would score his first touchdown as a pro-player and Chief during a 28-10 win over the Oakland Raiders in week No. 2 of the season. Hardman played in all 16 regular-season games for Kansas City as well as both post-season playoff games versus Houston and Tennessee.
On the year, Hardman hauled in 29 receptions for 565 yards and 6 touchdowns with an additional 4 rushes for 17 yards. As a returner, Hardman returned 37 kick-offs for 932 yards and a touchdown, averaging just over 25-yards per return. He also had 20 punt returns for 175 yards, averaging 8.75 yards per return. His performance on the field earned Mecole a 2019 Pro Bowl selection, and he was named to the 2019 PFWA All-Rookie Team.
And after Sunday’s 31-20 victory over the San Francisco 49’ers, Mecole Hardman can add Super Bowl Champion to his AFC Championship and Pro Bowl Selection.
And some of Mecole’s former Georgia teammates were showing him some love after the Chiefs’ win as well as one celebrity.