Kansas City Chiefs' Mecole Hardman Jr. Wants to Be an Actor After Hallmark Movie Debut: 'I Really Can Do That' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Cooper Neill/Getty

Cooper Neill/Getty

Travis Kelceisn’t the only member of theKansas City Chiefsmaking a run at an acting career!Mecole Hardman Jr., the wide receiver whocaught the game-winning touchdown at the Super Bowlthis year, has his eyes set on Hollywood. And his debut is just around the bend inHallmark Channel’sHoliday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, premiering on Saturday, Nov. 30.“I definitely want to act,” Hardman, 26, tells PEOPLE while sitting in the stands at Arrowhead Stadium in between scenes forHoliday Touchdown. “I’ve been talking about this since I was a little kid. Every time I see a movie, I’m like, ‘I can really do that. That’s something that I can do.’ You know what I’m saying? I know I play football, but that’s just something that’s always in the back of my mind.“Mecole Hardman Jr. and Catrick Mahomes in “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story”.Joshua Haines/Hallmark MediaWhile the much-anticipatedChristmas movie— which also starsTyler Hynes,Hunter KingandDonna Kelce— is Hardman’s first on-screen acting experience, it’s not his first time stepping into a role.“I did a few plays growing up with my mama, actually,” he shares. “I’ve always been fascinated with actors; Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael B. Jordan. I can keep going. They all kind of inspired me.“Hardman sees his time on the field in front of millions as giving him the “confidence” he’d need for such a career — and it’s certainly one his teammate Kelce has used to his advantage during his recent turn in FX’sGrotesquerie.“It’s pressure and confidence,” he says. “Obviously, it’s my profession, but performing doesn’t really bother you because you play in front of thousands in person and then millions watch you at home. So you’ve always got people critiquing you, anything you do. I think it translates to the movie world because you have critics and everybody has their opinion. So, I think that kind of prepares you for it.“Mecole Hardman Jr. at the 2024 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in February.Kevin Mazur/GettyLike his teammate, Hardman isn’t planning to drop football anytime soon to pursue these dreams.“I’ve got plenty of years in the league, but I can always film a movie in the off-season,” he says.For Hardman’s first scene inHoliday Touchdownwith lines, King’s Chiefs superfan character Alana approaches him and viral felineCatrick Mahomesand asks to take a selfie with them. “I felt a little nervousness, but I think I was ready,” he says. “If you’re not nervous, you’re not ready.“After a couple of rehearsals, Hynes encouraged Hardman to try to say the line in a way that felt more natural to him.“Tyler came to me and was like, ‘Do you want to change them?’ " he recalls. “I’m like, “‘Yeah, I’d rather say this a little differently.’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, I’ll tell [the director and producers for you].’ Okay, bet. Then we did it, and he was like, ‘Great take.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I know I killed that one.’ “In addition to Hynes' support, Hardman admits that sharing the screen with King elevated his game.“Freaking Hunter’s great,” raved the father of two withfiancée Chariah Gordon. “I mean, she’s easy. She’s definitely like eye contact, boom, and she’d go along with it. If you’re off script, she’ll go off script with you. It was perfect.““When you’re around good people — because Tyler and Hunter are great and they’re so good together — it works,” he adds.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Storypremieres Saturday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.

Travis Kelceisn’t the only member of theKansas City Chiefsmaking a run at an acting career!

Mecole Hardman Jr., the wide receiver whocaught the game-winning touchdown at the Super Bowlthis year, has his eyes set on Hollywood. And his debut is just around the bend inHallmark Channel’sHoliday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, premiering on Saturday, Nov. 30.

“I definitely want to act,” Hardman, 26, tells PEOPLE while sitting in the stands at Arrowhead Stadium in between scenes forHoliday Touchdown. “I’ve been talking about this since I was a little kid. Every time I see a movie, I’m like, ‘I can really do that. That’s something that I can do.’ You know what I’m saying? I know I play football, but that’s just something that’s always in the back of my mind.”

Mecole Hardman Jr. and Catrick Mahomes in “Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story”.Joshua Haines/Hallmark Media

Joshua Haines/Hallmark Media

While the much-anticipatedChristmas movie— which also starsTyler Hynes,Hunter KingandDonna Kelce— is Hardman’s first on-screen acting experience, it’s not his first time stepping into a role.

“I did a few plays growing up with my mama, actually,” he shares. “I’ve always been fascinated with actors; Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise, Samuel L. Jackson, Michael B. Jordan. I can keep going. They all kind of inspired me.”

Hardman sees his time on the field in front of millions as giving him the “confidence” he’d need for such a career — and it’s certainly one his teammate Kelce has used to his advantage during his recent turn in FX’sGrotesquerie.

“It’s pressure and confidence,” he says. “Obviously, it’s my profession, but performing doesn’t really bother you because you play in front of thousands in person and then millions watch you at home. So you’ve always got people critiquing you, anything you do. I think it translates to the movie world because you have critics and everybody has their opinion. So, I think that kind of prepares you for it.”

Mecole Hardman Jr. at the 2024 Ruffles NBA All-Star Celebrity Game in February.Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

Like his teammate, Hardman isn’t planning to drop football anytime soon to pursue these dreams.

“I’ve got plenty of years in the league, but I can always film a movie in the off-season,” he says.

For Hardman’s first scene inHoliday Touchdownwith lines, King’s Chiefs superfan character Alana approaches him and viral felineCatrick Mahomesand asks to take a selfie with them. “I felt a little nervousness, but I think I was ready,” he says. “If you’re not nervous, you’re not ready.”

After a couple of rehearsals, Hynes encouraged Hardman to try to say the line in a way that felt more natural to him.

“Tyler came to me and was like, ‘Do you want to change them?’ " he recalls. “I’m like, “‘Yeah, I’d rather say this a little differently.’ He’s like, ‘Yeah, I’ll tell [the director and producers for you].’ Okay, bet. Then we did it, and he was like, ‘Great take.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, I know I killed that one.’ "

In addition to Hynes' support, Hardman admits that sharing the screen with King elevated his game.

“Freaking Hunter’s great,” raved the father of two withfiancée Chariah Gordon. “I mean, she’s easy. She’s definitely like eye contact, boom, and she’d go along with it. If you’re off script, she’ll go off script with you. It was perfect.”

“When you’re around good people — because Tyler and Hunter are great and they’re so good together — it works,” he adds.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Storypremieres Saturday, Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.

source: people.com