NFL News: Andy Reid sends Jordan Love’s Packers a clear message about Super Bowl champ who left the Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs head into 2025 with a chip on their shoulder, with Andy Reid warning the rest of the NFL about Travis Kelce as the tight end pushed retirement for at least another year. The team will be down many contributors who were part of their recent Super Bowl titles though, with one of those champions teaming up with Jordan Love on the Green Bay Packers this offseason.

Wide receiver and return specialist Mecole Hardman will try his luck at Lambeau Field after many years in Kansas City, leaving a huge hole on special teams. But will he find in Green Bay the kind of role he had at Arrowhead?

According to Reid, he will. Speaking at the NFL annual meetings this week, the Chiefs head coach predicted that the Packers will find a place for Hardman, making it clear to Love and company that the wideout has everything to make a positive impact.

“Yeah, they will find a role for him,” Reid told Rob Demovsky of ESPN on Monday, via Chiefs Wire. “(He’s a) good kid and fast, and he’ll do a nice job for them. Oh yeah, he can still play, sure. Absolutely.”

Mecole Hardman Jr. #12 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after catching the game-winning touchdown in overtime to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 during Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium on February 11, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A change of scenery for Hardman after a fruitful time with Reid, Chiefs

Hardman finished every season of his six-year career with the Chiefs so far, but this isn’t the first time he signs with another team in the offseason. In 2023, the Georgia product left for the New York Jets in free agency.

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However, his stint in the Big Apple didn’t last long, with the player making his way back to the Chiefs halfway through the season. The trade aged well for Kansas City, as Hardman proved crucial for Reid and company on the biggest of stages.

In the highlight of his career, Hardman caught the game-winning touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes in overtime of Super Bowl LVIII to help the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers. Before that, he had already celebrated the team’s two previous rings with Reid at the helm.

Even though Reid and the Chiefs waited for him until the end, Hardman ended up watching last season’s playoffs from the sidelines due to a knee injury sustained in December. Now he’s heading into 2025 aiming to come back stronger on a different uniform. But first, he’ll have to earn a spot on the Packers, who want to put Love in a position to succeed.