Hardman Jr. hopes to revive career in Buffalo, not get caught in the numbers game

Three Super Bowl rings. Five total Super Bowl appearances. 10 straight days in the hospital. Four teams in two calendar years.

Numbers may not define who he is as a person, but the aforementioned numerals listed above have certainly helped shape the football player who currently dons the digits 1-6 for the Buffalo Bills.

That player, of course, is none other than wide receiver Mecole Hardman Jr., who joined the Bills’ practice squad on November 11th last year before eventually being signed to the active roster prior to the team’s Week 11 matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — a game in which the former Georgia Bulldog, Kansas City Chief, New York Jet, and Green Bay Packer burst onto the scene in his debut with Buffalo by breaking loose for a 61-yard kickoff return on his first touch of the season with the team from Western New York during the first quarter of what would end up being a 44-32 victory that Sunday in Orchard Park.

It was also a game, however, where the Elberton, Georgia, native lost a fumble on a punt return that ultimately helped the Buccaneers secure a five-point advantage midway through the third quarter in Highmark Stadium that autumn afternoon — nearly costing the Bills a crucial contest in the playoff race — and a play in which the 5-foot-10, 187-pound wideout subsequently suffered a calf injury that landed him on injured reserve for more than a month.

That injury, though, wasn’t anything close to what he suffered nearly three years ago to the day — back on November 7, 2022 — when the seven-year veteran had “one of those freak accidents” occur the day following an overtime win on Sunday Night Football with the Chiefs in which he began feeling severe discomfort in his pelvic region that only continued to increase in severity over the next several hours that day. 

Hardman wound up bedridden at a nearby hospital in Missouri not long after, staying for the duration of 10 days with what doctors eventually diagnosed as osteitis pubis, referring to inflammation of the joint at the front of the pelvis that causes chronic pain in the groin or lower abdomen area.

“It got hard to walk, hard to get up. I kept feeling this pain that I’ve never felt before. I mean, it’s probably one of the worst — it is the worst pain — I’ve ever felt in my life, and I just didn’t know, man. All I remember is my last steps I took was walking to the hospital chair and getting to the bed,” Mecole Hardman said in a recent phone interview with the Buffalo Fambase.

“I lost a lot of feeling in my legs for like three or four days, and then after that, you know, the feeling started to come back and (I) started wiggling my toes and stuff like that. And, then I ended up being able to walk again and going back (to work) — started rehabbing and getting right.”

Hardman remained sidelined from the injury for more than two months before returning for Kansas City’s AFC Championship rematch with the Cincinnati Bengals later on that season, a team that had just beaten the Chiefs in the conference title game the previous year.

The game ended differently for Kansas City this time around, but the outcome wasn’t what Hardman was hoping for.

Yes, his team had advanced to yet another Super Bowl to face the Philadelphia Eagles, which they would end up losing, but the former second-round pick unfortunately wouldn’t be joining them as he suffered a setback related to his previous pelvic injury, pulling both of his groins in the game against the Bengals that eventually needed surgery to be fully repaired, which coincidentally would take place in Philadelphia.

The situation, as hard as it may have seemed at the time, was a blessing in disguise for the soon-to-be 28-year-old.

“I think that’s the best thing to ever happen because I was told that (my pelvic injury) would get better over time. But, when I pulled my groins and Dr. Meyers from Philly — he did my surgery — it was like I had so much scar tissue and it was so messed up over my pelvic bone that it was so hard to ignore,” Hardman recalled about his visit at the Vincera Institute with Dr. William C. Meyers, a world-renowned surgeon who specializes in treating core muscle injuries.

“So, he had to repair all of that, and he did a lot of work on me. And, I thank him for that because he actually, you know, made me be able to not have any of those problems anymore . . . It’s just one of those things that happens. But, yeah — it was one of those scary moments in my life.”

“It kind of made me, you know, appreciate football a little bit more because at that time I wasn’t thinking about anything (like that). I guess it was just all football. But, you know, it just opened my mind and showed me that like (there’s) more to life, for sure, and football can go on any day, and you’ve got to enjoy it while it’s here because it’s not for long, you know? It’s not going to be forever.”

Since that tumultuous season, Hardman has certainly experienced the “not for long” aspect of the NFL firsthand, bouncing between the Jets, Chiefs, and Packers over the next two years before finding his current home in Buffalo last fall.

But, despite all that he has experienced over the past few years from his array of injuries, to changing city to city, and — by definition — being unemployed from the NFL until Week 11 of last year after he was released from the Packers’ practice squad in September — he’s still standing. 

Though, after his misfortunes during the game against Tampa Bay in what was just his first appearance of the regular season last year, Hardman managed to get on the field just twice more for the Bills — once in Week 16 against the Cleveland Browns and once in Buffalo’s divisional round loss to the Denver Broncos, a game that saw Hardman catch his first touchdown since being on the receiving end of the game-winning score from Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII.

As fate would have it, Hardman’s touchdown for Buffalo against the Broncos came on the exact same playcall the veteran wideout scored on in that Super Bowl victory on February 11, 2024.

“Tom and Jerry” was all he needed to hear from offensive coordinator Joe Brady, who will now be Hardman’s new head coach, to know just what play he had in mind during the week of preparation leading up to the divisional round game.

“That’s all Joe, man,” Hardman said when speaking about Buffalo’s newest head coach.

“Just being able to watch my film and seeing what I was good at and what I’ve done over the years, and trying to incorporate me into the offense, you know, just to give me some touches and doing those types of things. And, that’s one of the plays I run well because there’s a threat of being able to go get the jet sweep . . . so I think that was a big thing. You know, I’m mad I got hurt the first game I got (to Buffalo), but I think that was just (Joe) watching film and seeing what I was good at and trying to find the best ways to put me in a position where I was comfortable, where I didn’t have to think, and I could just go out there and play.”

Despite the loss to Denver and the disappointment that came along with failing to reach the AFC Championship for the first time in his career since being drafted into the league in 2019, Hardman went on to talk about just how excited he is to have a full offseason with Buffalo, especially under the leadership of Brady, who the wide receiver believes has a “fire lit under him.”

The abrupt exit of longtime head coach Sean McDermott certainly caught the three-time Super Bowl champion a bit off guard, but the fact that he’ll still be able to continue to fully immerse himself into Brady’s offense and learn all of the nuances instead of having to start from scratch — which would have obviously happened had Buffalo selected someone other than its previous offensive coordinator to be the 21st head coach in franchise history — has the speedster eager to see what’s in store for the months to come.

“(Joe’s) young. So, for him, it’s more about the energy — he wants to bring the energy. He wants to bring that mindset and try to establish a standard offensively. Now, he has to do that defensively (too) because he’s the head coach. So, just being with him and for him being the OC and (me) playing under him — I’ve got a ton of respect for him. I love playing for him. I think he’s got a great plan,” Hardman added.

“But, now it’s more so seeing where we can go from here. Like, how can we advance (the offense)? How can we take it to another level? So, I think that’s going to be the main thing. I’m excited.”

As far as what that evolution will involve? 

That story won’t begin to unfold until the team gets together for OTAs in the spring and, more importantly Hardman said, when the team comes together for a few weeks on the road at training camp in Rochester, New York, at St. John Fisher University in late July. 

That’s when he’ll know for sure if this “new era” of Bills’ football will have what it takes to reach the elusive Super Bowl and finally hoist the Lombardi Trophy. 

For starters, Hardman knows that the Bills are in good hands with quarterback Josh Allen at the helm. 

He’s been around other all-time greats like Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers, and a young gunslinger in Jordan Love, so seeing Allen up close and personal has been just another notch in his belt when it comes to being surrounded by great quarterbacks.

Still, it’s not something you can take for granted. 

For that reason, Hardman will be glad to see his new quarterback get back to the field fully healthy following an offseason procedure of his own, something fans aren’t accustomed to seeing from the former MVP.

“You’ve got a guy like Josh Allen, man. (He’s) one of the best in the league. That’s a pretty great start, you know what I mean? He’s a hell of a player — one of the best I’ve been around,” Hardman said.

“Down to earth guy, great team player, great leader. So, having a guy like that on your side is not a bad start at all because it’s going to start with him. Just having him on that side (of the ball) — man, he’s going to come back in healthy — so yeah, it’s going to be fun.”

Now, about to enter year eight of his career, Hardman is hoping to get back to contributing to a team the way that he knows he’s capable of.

Once thought to be the successor to Tyreek Hill in Kansas City before everything seemingly fell apart in that 2022 season, Hardman posted career highs in receiving the year prior in 2021 with 59 receptions on 83 targets for 693 yards and two touchdowns, but he’s appeared in just 30 total games — regular season and playoffs combined — in the three seasons since then after having previously appeared in all 58 of Kansas City’s games from 2019 to 2021. 

Needless to say, it’s been a frustrating stretch. But, Hardman knows the ability that once made him the 56th overall pick in the draft hasn’t left. 

He’s still a “threat.”

The return ability? That hasn’t left either. 

He and fellow returner Ray Davis, who just earned First Team All-Pro honors last season, can be a good problem to have for newly appointed special teams coordinator Jeff Rodgers. 

In Hardman’s mind — all he needs is a chance to prove himself again. 

“Anytime I’ve ever had opportunities or chances to be on the offense or (special teams), whether it’s Kansas City or wherever I was, I’m going to make plays. I think I’m one of the biggest threats with the ball in my hands in the league, you know, no matter what people want to say. But, when I get the ball in my hands it’s a problem (for defenders),” Hardman said.

“That’s how I feel. That’s my mindset. I feel like that’s how every receiver’s mindset should be, you know? But, I think I’m a threat, regardless, with the ball in my hand — whether it’s a screen, whether it’s down the field, (or) whether it’s across the middle. So, definitely getting opportunities is the main thing. If I can get opportunities to prove that and show that — the speed’s still there. The ability is still there. It hasn’t went nowhere. I feel really good, really back to 100 percent.”

A good reason for the receiver’s newfound well of health and rejuvenation is the extra time that has been allotted to Hardman this offseason after failing to reach a conference title game for the first time in his career, which has just been another blessing in disguise in an otherwise string of recent unfortunate events for the wideout.

He’s had more time than any offseason ever before to spend with his kids, his fiancée, and his parents, whom he recently helped move to a house in Winder, Georgia, and he’s undoubtedly taken advantage of those precious extra moments as Hardman had yet to begin back training as of the time of our interview last week.

However, with offseason workouts set to begin a bit earlier this year for Buffalo on April 6th due to the hiring of their new head coach, the former five-star high school recruit is finally ready to start gearing up for another trip around the proverbial NFL sun.

He’ll still be working with his trainers T.J. and Steph Brown, brothers who specialize in wide receiver training and who run Top Shelf Performance in Atlanta, Georgia, as he has in the past few years, but this time around Hardman feels as ready as he’s ever been to “lock in” and do whatever it takes to be a difference maker once more.

Again, that return ability hasn’t gone anywhere, either. Hardman doesn’t want you to forget that.

“I think this is the year that I’m focusing on just more so myself and things that can improve my game, which you do every year, which is like routes, releases, top of the route — just the little nuances and how to get better . . . I just want to be detailed on certain routes and, again, to be able to run 80 percent and, you know, making it believable that I’m at 100 (percent) so I can get in and out of my break faster than a DB,” he said. 

“Just trying to master certain things and get better all around overall, so when it comes to getting on that field, man, there’s no weaknesses (and) there’s no dips in my game . . . the returning game will be there. It’s not going nowhere. I’m always going to be dynamic and a threat back there.”

“But, I just really, you know, being older — I’m still young — but (I’m) just trying to elevate my game and get more opportunities on that side of the field . . . so, hopefully I get the opportunity to do that and take advantage of the opportunity. This year is all about sacrifice and just buying all in and trying to be the best player I can be.”

If he’s able to do so, it’ll certainly be a boost to a wide receiver room that has been much maligned in past seasons for Buffalo, particularly last year when problems ranged from off-the-field concerns with a young player like Keon Coleman, to constant injuries and a lack of production from the position as a whole.

With that said, it’s still no guarantee that Hardman will ultimately make the 53-man roster when final cuts are made at the beginning of September.

He knows that the team will go out and get another player or two at the position, probably premier players at that.

So, although outside observers might say it’s more likely than not that he might get caught up in a “numbers” game when all is said and done — that’s OK.

Numerics don’t define him as a person, remember?

Whatever happens will happen. He’s just ready to lay it all on the line and see where the chips fall.

“This is the best I’ve felt in probably the last couple years as far as going into an offseason. So, I’m excited about that, man, and excited to improve on that,” Hardman said.

“Like I said, just show my worth and show that I’m still a guy that has to be dealt with when the ball is in his hands.”

Editor’s babble: Many thanks to John Green for this terrific interview. You can also find John on X @JGreen_PRsports.