Jason Hanson Plans To Return For 21st Season With Lions

by Sean Yuille on Jan 11, 2012 11:06 AM EST in Detroit Lions News

Last offseason, it was anything but a sure thing that Jason Hanson would be the Detroit Lions' starting kicker. Coming off of a season-ending injury, Hanson entered training camp with the starting kicker job on the line against Dave Rayner, who did a good job of filling in for him while he was out.

Hanson quickly gained a stranglehold of the starting job once the preseason began and locked up the spot at kicker for the 20th season in a row. Finally healthy, he got off to a good start, and even after having stitches in his knee midseason, Hanson performed at a high level, going 24-of-29 on field goals and 54-of-54 on extra points during the season.

Hanson's good season has him planning a return for his 21st year as the Lions' kicker. Although nothing is ever guaranteed, Hanson plans to be the kicker if the Lions will have him.

"I feel like I can still do it physically, so as long as they invite me back -- which I'm putting in a personal request that they do -- I'd like to do it," Hanson said with laugh Monday as the team cleaned out its lockers. "I hopefully showed them I'm not as old as my hair and I can still do it."

I'd bet on the Lions bringing in somebody to both compete with Hanson and lessen the workload on him during training camp. When the preseason comes to a close and the 2012 regular season begins, though, I fully expect Hanson to once again be the Lions' starting kicker.

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I think this is great tbh.

I could see Hanson kicking for several more seasons yet, Kicker is one of those positions if you find a gem (like Hanson has been) that you’re set for 15-20+ seasons. Thanks Jason for staying as a Lion all these years!

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by MuleRules on Jan 11, 2012 11:09 AM EST reply actions

Love the guy.

He’s still money with the uprights and the new kickoff rules happened at just the right time for him.

Keep it up Jason!
Thanks!

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."
-Aristotle

by UndaDawg on Jan 11, 2012 11:36 AM EST reply actions

Exactly.

I hate the new kickoff rule, but it might’ve extended Jason’s career by about 5 years.

by ziggyz on Jan 11, 2012 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

2.55 million coming to him next season

Yeah, I would not retire either.

Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith 1945 - 2011 R.I.P.

by JCruize on Jan 11, 2012 11:51 AM EST reply actions

I hope he comes back, he’s 4 to 5 more years from breaking the nfl all time scoring record, and that’s with the LIONS lol. How funny would that be the nfl’s all time leading scorer playing every year in Detroit. Especially through the 0-16 season lol

by lion on Jan 11, 2012 12:43 PM EST reply actions

That is extremely ass-backwards and a testament to Hanson's skill

by Kalzilla on Jan 11, 2012 10:04 PM EST up reply actions

He'll Be Back

Seems like every year they bring somebody in but Hanson always wins out. Don’t expect it to be any different next year, unless they bring in a guy with a leg like SeBas….

by DaMidWesterner on Jan 11, 2012 12:56 PM EST reply actions

Awesome

Still a top 5 kicker. Why not keep him?

All men are created equal. Its just that some men are more equal than others....

by CapitolLions on Jan 11, 2012 2:27 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I want him back.

Now that we have a team that can finally compete in the playoffs again, Hanson has a shot at making a deep playoff run; which will look better on his push for Canton. He deserves to have that opportunity if he can still kick the ball.

"You've got to respect your opponent, no matter who it is. You respect him best by going out there and beating him up." - Calvin Johnson

by Mavyrk on Jan 11, 2012 3:19 PM EST reply actions