Hanson had a remarkable all-star NFL career, playing an impressive 21 years while spending all 21 seasons with one team – the Detroit Lions. He was drafted by the Lions in the second round (56th overall) of the 1992 NFL draft holds the NFL record for the most seasons played with one team, as well as multiple kicking and scoring records.
Hanson was a school, Pac-12 Conference and NCAA record-holder as a punter and field goal kicker as he starred at Washington State as an undergraduate. He took a perfect 4.0 grade point average out of high school (Mead High School in Spokane, Washington), and parlayed that into a scholar-athlete career for the Cougars. Hanson earned a bachelor of science degree from WSU in pre-med studies, carrying a 3.78 grade point average. He was a three-time, First Team Academic All-America® honorees as a sophomore, junior and senior.
On the gridiron, Hanson arrived on campus as a walkon – and was named to
The Sporting News Freshman All-America team. Hanson set or tied numerous NCAA records, and his percentage of 57.1 for field goals from 50 yards or greater remains a Pac-12 Conference record. He holds the record for most field goals from 50 yards or more (20), and 40 yards or more (39). Hanson's school records include most points scored (328), longest field goal (62 yards), most games with two or more field goals (20), field goals (63), and PAT’s (139). He was also the punter at WSU during his final two seasons.
The 56th overall pick (second round) of the Detroit Lions in the 1992 NFL Draft, Hanson went on to a distinguished two-decade plus career as a kicker. He represented the NFC in the Pro Bowl in 1998 and 1999, and was an alternate in 1997 and 2008. He retired in 2013 after setting Lion records for scoring (2,100 points) and field goals (483).
The Detroit Lions inducted him into the Ring of Honor in fall 2013 at Ford Field for his success and dedication to Detroit Lions football.