Jets punter goes in on ex-teammate for comments about coach

Tyler Greenawalt

Jets punter goes in on ex-teammate for comments about coach image

Jets punter Thomas Morstead admitted one of his ambiguous social media posts was about former teammate Mecole Hardman.

Morstead told GoJo & Golic on Tuesday that he thought Hardman's anti-Jets tirade earlier this year — especially his comments about the coaching staff — was "bullsh---t," among other things.

Back in February, Hardman lambasted the Jets on The Pivot. Hardman signed a one-year deal with the Jets during the 2023 offseason after four years with the Chiefs but was traded back to Kansas City after a month in New York. He alleged that the Jets — including special teams coordinator Brant Boyer — misled him about his role with the team and that he refused to return kicks for Boyer against the Chiefs before the trade.

"It’s the lies and the way they handled me," Hardman said. "I didn’t like it at all." 

Soon after the interview made the rounds, Morstead posted a message on social media about "disgruntled former employees" — which was initially perceived as a shot at Hardman. 

Morstead cleared up any confusion about who he was speaking about in the post. He unequivocally pointed at Hardman as the recipient of his message.

"I just felt like I needed to speak up and say something," Morstead said. "I didn't want to take any shots at him, it was just enough and I didn't want to stand for it."

Hardman ended up getting the last laugh, though, as he caught the game-winning touchdown for the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII. The Jets, meanwhile, finished 7-10 and will pick at No. 10 in the 2024 NFL draft.

Tyler Greenawalt

Tyler Greenawalt Photo

 

Tyler Greenawalt is a contributing writer for The Sporting News after stops at Yahoo Sports, USA Today Sports and Turner Sports. He’s worked in written, video, social media and augmented reality content since he graduated from Syracuse University in 2014. His favorite teams – the New York Jets, Orlando Magic and Tottenham Hotspur – always find new and exciting ways to disappoint him, and he consistently questions his fandom. You can follow his bad sports takes at @TyGreen14 on X.