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“I Cried So Hard”: Mecole Hardman Gets Candid on Painful Injury That Made Him Miss Super Bowl

Published 02/28/2024, 3:31 AM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

The NFL is known for its glamour and glitz, but Mecole Hardman Jr’s experiences exemplify how a player can remain strong even under duress. Hardman’s world took a dramatic turn on the fateful November 7, 2022, following the Kansas City Chiefs‘ riveting overtime victory against the Tennessee Titans. It started as an uneasiness but left him lying in the emergency room the next day.

Despite facing failure, he kept pushing forward until he succeeded. His determination and never-give-up attitude helped him achieve even more. The Super Bowl LVIII epic finale will remain in our memory for long with Hardman’s winning touchdown that stunned audiences.

Hardman’s struggle after midseason injury

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Mecole Hardman Jr recently drew attention due to an injury he sustained during the 2022 NFL season, which reminded many of the challenges he faced that year. The Chiefs’ overtime victory against the Titans on November 7, 2022, remained one of the toughest moments for Hardman. He had osteitis pubis, a painful condition often seen in athletes, which highlighted the seriousness of his condition. This led him to undergo medical tests and meet with experts.

Hardman openly shared that this period was filled with fear and uncertainty as he considered the possible effects on his career and the little-known nature of his condition. However, this did not stop him from delivering. The pain mysteriously increased the next day so dramatically that he had no other option but to seek medical attention.

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In a recent interview on the Pivot Podcast YouTube channel, he spoke about it and he stated: “I cried so hard.” With an honest admission, Hardman showed the aggravation of his injury, though the pain worsened sporadically, ultimately taking him to the point where he could not get his body to move.

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With tears in his eyes, he reached out to Rick Burkholder. The Chiefs head athletic trainer laid out all kinds of assistance seriously needed by Hardman.

Mecole’s remarkable moment of triumph in Super Bowl LVIII

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After he scored the touchdown that was the winner of Super Bowl LVIII, Mecole Hardman can’t actually remember how significant the game was. However, this fact came as a surprise to most people who followed football. As a much-awaited outcome was quickly becoming obvious, a flawless pass from Mahomes to Hardman was followed by the most crucial touchdown of the game. 

The Chiefs were able to add a new stage to their dominance in football as a result. Finishing the game, Hardman acknowledged, “I knew I was getting the ball, caught the football, and then I blacked out.” Standing out, that dramatic experience tagged the high point of their unsteady path — from signing with the New York Jets to being traded to the Chiefs amidst injury setbacks. Despite his alternating level of confidence, Hardman’s indomitable spirit and impact on the team proved to be undeniably spectacular.

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Written by:

Paramita Banik

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Paramita Banik is an NFL writer for EssentiallySports. She has been following Deion Sanders and his journey with the Buffaloes. Her coverage is focused on the Buffs’ off-season training.
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Edited by:

Shubhankar Adhikari