Talk about a season coming full circle. Kansas City Chiefs Wide receiver McCall Hardman.
Hardman, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Chiefs, begins the 2023 campaign with the New York Jets. However, after little use, he was released, and the Chiefs quickly picked him back up.
Months later, he was on the receiving end of an overtime touchdown from Patrick Mahomes to win. Super Bowl LVIII.
McCall Hardman Jr., #12, of the Kansas City Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes, #15, scores the game-winning touchdown in overtime to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 during Super Bowl LVIII on February 11 at Allegiant Stadium. Celebrating after scoring. 2024 in Las Vegas. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
He said he “blacked out” when it happened.
“I’m not going to lie, I caught that pass and I blacked out,” he said on CBS’ postgame show Sunday night after a 25-22 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. “I didn’t know what was going on until I saw Pete running up to me and I was like, ‘Oh, we just won? Let’s celebrate!'”
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Hardman’s touchdown came in overtime after the 49ers kicked a short field goal to go up by three points.
Mahomes led a perfect drive, which included a fourth-down run to keep it alive, as well as a big fumble that put the Chiefs in the red zone.
McCall Hardman Jr., #12 of the Kansas City Chiefs, after catching the game-winning touchdown in overtime to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas. Celebrating. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Travis Kelce Caught his ninth pass of the game from Mahomes for seven yards to land at San Francisco’s three-yard line. Then, Mahomes ran to his right after the snap and flipped it to Hardman for the win.
Hardman also had a 52-yard catch in the first half to get the Chiefs into the red zone for the first time, but Kansas City couldn’t cash in on Asia Pacheco’s fumble on the next play.
Hardman also went viral this offseason when the Jets were on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” when he predicted he would play in the Super Bowl against the 49ers.
While the Jets were on the card with Oz the Mentalist, Hardman was right about what he was going to be in the final game of the season against the NFC-champion Niners.
McCall Hardman Jr., #12 of the Kansas City Chiefs, after catching the game-winning touchdown in overtime to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas. Celebrating. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Now he’s got his third Super Bowl ring in five NFL seasons, and while he may have blacked out, his catch will live on as the one that won it all for his Chiefs.