In the Kansas City Chiefs‘ hunt for a Super Bowl three-peat, upgrading the wide receivers room was a top priority. After releasing Marquez Valdes-Scantling, it seemed the Chiefs also moved on from veteran Mecole Hardman.

However, amid Phase 3 of organized team activities, NFL insider Jordan Schultz broke the news that Kansas City was re-signing Hardman on Thursday, June 6. The news was a surprise considering the Chiefs’ offseason moves thus far.

Kansas City signed Marquise “Hollywood” Brown in free agency, traded up to land Xavier Worthy in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft, and head coach Andy Reid doubled down on Kadarius Toney’s potential.

For Chariah Gordon, Hardman’s longtime girlfriend, who’s pregnant with the couple’s second child, the return to Kansas City is better late than never. She posted a photo with Hardman at Arrowhead on her Instagram Stories and wrote, “Home is where the heart is.”

Gordon and Hardman have called Kansas City for the better part of five years. While Hardman started the 2023 season with the New York Jets after signing a one-year $4 million deal, the Chiefs traded to get him back in October.

After the trade, Hardman missed five regular season games due to a thumb injury. He finished with 14 passes for 118 yards in six games. While he wasn’t a huge factor throughout the playoffs, Hardman played a crucial role during the Chiefs’ 25-22 overtime Super Bowl win against the San Francisco 49ers.

He caught three passes for 57 yards, including the game-winning 3-yard touchdown from quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Chiefs superstar Chris Jones appeared both surprised and thrilled over Hardman’s return. Jones posted the announcement on X and wrote , “😳🚨…. The broski 🤞🏾.” Hardman, the Chiefs second-round pick from the 2019 NFL draft, is signing another one-year deal, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.