Mecole Hardman Rips 'False Accusations' That He Gave Jets' Gameplan to Chiefs, Eagles | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors
Ava White
Published Mar 25, 2026
Veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman has broken his silence on the rumors that he gave the New York Jets' gameplans to the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles during the 2023 campaign.
Hardman posted Friday on X that he would "never leak gameplans to another team":
Mecole Hardman Jr. @MecoleHardman4There were FALSE accusations made about me and MY CHARACTER! To set the record straight, I have never and would never leak gameplans to another team. I have never been a person to give an opponent an upper hand I always want to win no matter the circumstances!!!!!
Hardman began the 2023 campaign with the Jets after spending the first five seasons of his career with the Chiefs. He was traded back to Kansas City in October and went on to win his third Super Bowl title.
The 25-year-old got the internet fired up earlier this week when he said on The Pivot Podcast that he was "checked out" with Gang Green before being traded, adding that he told the Chiefs to "come get me."
Hardman later clarified on X that he "never had talks with KC before the trade," but some of his other comments, which included expressing his frustration over his lack of playing time in New York, rubbed some members of the Jets the wrong way.
Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner then accused the wide receiver of leaking the team's offensive gameplan to the Eagles in a since-deleted post, and SNY's Connor Hughes reported "there was validated belief from the #Jets that WR Mecole Hardman, frustrated by his lack-of usage, leaked game plans to the opposition, as implied by several players."
Hughes added that the Jets believed Hardman also leaked gameplans to the Chiefs.
Of note, the Jets nearly beat the Chiefs in Week 4 but lost 23-20 in what was Zach Wilson's best game of the season, and they upset the Eagles in their Week 6 matchup.
Hardman appeared in just five games for the Jets before being traded to the Chiefs. He caught one pass for six yards and also had punt returning duties before rookie Xavier Gipson took over.
