Mecole Hardman wins AFC Special Teams Player of the Week

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman earned the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week with a 104-yard kickoff return against the Chargers.

Mecole Hardman turned plenty of heads on Sunday afternoon in the Kansas City Chiefs win over the Los Angeles Chargers. Not only did he come up big with a nice deep catch to help move the chains at a critical time on the touchdown drive for Demarcus Robinson, but he also returned a kickoff for 104 yards a few minutes later to score 7 points of his own in the 31-21 victory.

It turns out the NFL was watching as well as they’ve rewarded him with the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 17 for his efforts.

Hardman has been a rookie revelation this season for the Chiefs offense, and he was also named to the Pro Bowl as the returner for the AFC’s roster in a year to remember. Yet he was saving his best performance for last, with his speed on the return showing exactly what he can bring when featured on the field.

No single player in the entire NFL with 10 or more catches is averaging as many yards per catch as Hardman (20.7), and the former Georgia product finished his rookie regular season with 26 catches for 538 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. He also had 4 rushes for 19 yards.

As for other award winners, running back Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans was given the Offensive Player of the Week in the AFC for rushing over 200 yards and picking up 3 touchdowns. Carlos Bengals pass rusher Carlos Dunlap was the AFC’s Defensive Player after coming up with 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in a win over the Cleveland Browns.