When the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII, pandamonium immediately set in.
After all, it was just the second Super Bowl to be decided in overtime, with the Chiefs coming away with a 25-22 win after quarterback Patrick Mahomes found wide receiver Mecole Hardman in the end zone for a three-yard walk-off touchdown.
During the chaos, Hardman threw the ball to the side to celebrate with the team, and then it was gone. Hardman brought it up after the game with the CBS crew,
.@MecoleHardman4 finally got the ball from his game-winning overtime TD in #SBLVIII 🥹🏈 (via @NFLonCBS) pic.twitter.com/e50hfilPYC
— NFL (@NFL) February 14, 2024
“I don’t know [where the ball is],” Hardman said Sunday night. “Somebody hit it out of my hand. It’s gone. Hopefully, they can find it, man. Hopefully, they know the number of it.” He continued.
On Tuesday, the story had a happy ending. “I got the game ball!” Hardman exclaimed. “Pat [Mahomes], I need you to sign it!”
Hardman wound up playing a key role in the Super Bowl victory that no one would have expected to begin the season. After being drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Hardman was with the team for their victories in Super Bowl LIV and Super Bowl LVII.
Last offseason, he left Kansas City to sign with the New York Jets but he spent just five games there before being dealt back to the Chiefs in October for a late-round 2025 pick.
[NFL]
