Patrick Mahomes playfully zings Mecole Hardman on social media

Kansas City Chiefs rookie wide receiver Mecole Hardman spent this past weekend in Los Angeles, California, at the NFLPA rookie premiere. The rookie premiere is the first major business and marketing event featuring recently-drafted NFL players.

One of the items on the event agenda is a photo shoot for Hardman in his full Chiefs uniform.

On Monday, Hardman posted a photo of himself making a one-handed catch at the premiere. Hardman captioned the photo, “Sneak peek of what’s to come...”

Cue Patrick Mahomes, who attended the event himself in 2017.

The Chiefs starting quarterback quote-tweeted Hardman and wrote, “Yeah as long as you keep running and stop slowing down.”

Mahomes used two laughing emojis after the message—meaning he was playfully messing with the 21-year-old rookie, but there is some truth entwined in the message.

It quickly reminded me of a quote from Travis Kelce on The Dan Patrick Show from shortly after Week 3 last year.

KELCE: “Pat’s ready to sling that thing 70 at any point in the game. He’s just ready to show it off. In your mind, you have to run. There’s no looking for the ball and slowing down. Sometimes when you know you’re not getting the ball after like 30 yards downfield [you slow down]. No. With Pat, you have to keep running because it could be coming at any second.”

Mahomes has been working with Hardman at the Chiefs facility for about a week, with phase-three OTAs set to begin Tuesday.

Even if he’s joking, take it from Mahomes—keep running, Mecole.