The New York Jets headed into the 2023 season badly in need of explosiveness and stability behind receiver Garrett Wilson on the depth chart. Veteran quarterback – and de facto general manager – Aaron Rodgers influenced the signings of Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb.

Both moves fell flat.

Another offseason acquisition, however, lands squarely at the feet of general manager Joe Douglas and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. In signing former Kansas City Chiefs receiver Mecole Hardman, the Jets were supposed to add to their pass catchers while gaining a special-teams and gadget-play asset.

Hardman played in as many games as he had receiving yards with the Jets: 6.

Now, the veteran receiver is back with the Chiefs with the time to prepare for Sunday’s Super Bowl and reflect on his flummoxing tenure in New York.

“It was a roller coaster,” Hardman said. “Things definitely didn’t go like I wanted it to go. I guess I just wasn’t on the same page with everybody.”

Hardman largely attributed his short stay to Hackett’s struggles to acclimate himself to life without Rodgers, which became necessary after the first drive of the season. He harbors no “bad blood,” and it’s easy to see why. New York finished with seven wins. He’s one win away from his third Super Bowl ring.

Hardman barely saw the field during the first half of the season, catching one of three targets and not seeing the field long enough for a jet sweep or a kick return.

“I don’t know if [Hackett] didn’t know how to use me, in a sense, or just felt like he didn’t need to. I don’t know what their thinking was when it came to me and having me on the field or not,” Hardman said. “There were plays where I could have gone into the game. Was it called? Not really.

“I think Hackett is a great guy. When it came to me, I don’t know what the thought process was.”

Hardman was traded to the Chiefs, along with a seventh-round pick in 2025, for a 2025 sixth-round pick. New York clearly didn’t have the role it once envisioned for him, essentially wasting the $4 million that could have gone toward, perhaps, a better backup quarterback.

He finished his regular season with 15 catches for 124 yards while rotating in for Kansas City. With his speed, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him break open a big play on the sport’s biggest stage.