If the Kansas City Chiefs want to win the Super Bowl and secure a sensational 'three titles', they will have to do it without Mecole Hardman.
The man who scored the winning touchdown in last year's Super Bowl in Las Vegas against the San Francisco 49ers was ruled out for the rest of the season by head coach Andy Reid on Wednesday.
The wide receiver has been sidelined with a knee issue that required surgery in early December and the Chiefs have now accepted that his recovery will not come in time for the Super Bowl in New Orleans on February 9.
Speaking to the media Wednesday ahead of this weekend's massive matchup against the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium, Reid said Hardman will remain on the injured reserve list.
Their 21-day practice window opened before the Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos, the final game of the regular season.
The 26-year-old will now turn his attention to the 2025 campaign.
The Chiefs will be without Super Bowl hero Mecole Hardman for the rest of the season.
Hardman made the Super Bowl-winning catch for the Chiefs in Las Vegas last season; Here, he is shown celebrating with Taylor Swift while teammate Travis Kelce looks on
Last year, Hardman endured a whirlwind campaign after starting the season with the New York Jets before being traded back to the Chiefs after just six games.
But after being cast adrift by a team that ended up missing the playoffs after quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon, he finished the season as a champion who made the game-winning catch as his team won a second consecutive Super Bowl.
Travis Kelce praised Hardman after that win in Las Vegas and criticized the Jets for letting him go.
“It made me cry to see that he was the man that got us this ring,” Kelce said.
And keep trying to find ways to win. I had a big play for us early on that got us going and on top of that, he found a way to win the game for us.
'Mecole, he's one of my favorite teammates simply because he keeps showing up.
“When everyone ruled him out, even the Jets ruled him out, and we were so excited when he came back into the building because he's the kind of guy that brings everyone together.”
The Chiefs beat the Houston Texans 23-14 on Saturday, with tight end Kelce signaling his return to form with a touchdown and seven receptions for 177 yards.
Hardman returned to the Chiefs midway through last season from the New York Jets.
Meanwhile, the Bills won a thriller against the Baltimore Ravens in snowy Buffalo.
The winner of Bills vs Chiefs will play the winner of Philadelphia Eagles vs Washington Commanders.
The Eagles beat the Rams last weekend, while Jayden Daniels and the Commanders stunned the Detroit Lions on the road.