After posting one of the best games of his career as a punt returner for the Kansas City Chiefs against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mecole Hardman seems destined to play a big role on special teams moving forward in the playoffs.
Chiefs ST coordinator Dave Toub commented on the job he did in his media availability on Thursday. After a pair of fumbles early on in the season, Hardman was benched in favor of Mike Hughes. Toub reflected on what Hardman may have learned from watching Hughes as he sat in recent weeks and awaited his opportunity to get back to returning punts.
“Mecole had his best punt return day that he’s had since he’s been here,” Toub said of the third-year receiver. “I mean I know he scored a touchdown in Miami last year, but that day that he had Sunday, he ran tough, he didn’t run out of bounds, he actually cut back into the field, make some people miss. He had a desire not to go down and that’s what you have to have as a punt returner.
