Detroit Lions Top 50: #9-5 with VIDEO
Oct 14, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Detroit Lions kicker Jason Hanson (4) celebrates kicking the game winning field goal in overtime against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. The Lions defeated the Eagles 26-23 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
5. Jason Hanson, K, 1992-2012
Jason Hanson owns every single place-kicking record in Lions history, a bunch more NFL records (career field goals over 50 yards, for instance) and a cozy third-place spot on the NFL’s all-time scoring list.
Hanson was selected in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Lions, the 56th overall pick. He retired from the Lions in 2013; no NFL player played as many games with the same team as Hanson, breaking the old record of 296 held by Bruce Matthews in Week 2 of the 2011 season vs. the Kansas City Chiefs.
In addition to being the all-time longest-tenured Lion, Hanson is the only player who was with the team for the playoff runs in the 1990s and the infamous winless campaign in 2008.
On December 14, 2008, against the Indianapolis Colts, Hanson passed Morten Andersen for most 50+ yard field goals in NFL history. Hanson again had a good year, ending the 2008 NFL season 21-for-22 on field goal attempts (including 8 for 8 from 50+ yards) and 25-for-26 on extra point attempts. Statistically, this was the second best season of Hanson’s career with respect to field goal attempts; he missed only one.
Hanson is the team’s all-time leader in scoring, with 2,100 points, and in field goals with 483 (as of the same date), and holds a variety of other team records for kicking and scoring.
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He represented the NFC in the Pro Bowl in 1998 and 1999, and was an alternate in 1997 and 2008.
He has booted 17 game-winning field goals in his career; eight in regulation and nine in overtime.
On April 4, 2013, Hanson announced his retirement.At the time of his retirement, he was the oldest active player in the NFL, the last player to have played for the same team he played for prior to the advent of free agency and the salary cap in the NFL.
Hanson was named the 2002 recipient of the Detroit Lions/Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association/Pro Football Writers Association’s Media-Friendly “Good Guy” Award. The Good Guy Award is given yearly to the Detroit Lions player who shows consideration to, and cooperation with the media at all times during the course of the season.
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.
Stay logged into Detroit Jock City for the culmination of our countdown, the top four Detroit Lions of all-time!
Before we go though, here is a video of Jason Hanson laying a hit on Chicago Bears returner, Devin Hester!