Highlighted Year: Chris Hanson, 2002

Punter, Jacksonville Jaguars

Age: 26 (Oct. 25)

4^th season in pro football, 3^rd active in NFL & 2^nd with Jaguars

College: Marshall

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 211

Prelude:

The left-footed Hanson was an undrafted free agent signed by the Cleveland Browns in 1999 but was waived following training camp. He was picked up by the Packers, appeared in the season opener, and moved to the practice squad until he was let go in midseason. Hanson’s next stop was Miami, who allocated him to the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europe for the 2000 spring season. He punted 50 times for a 42.8-yard average but an injury suffered in the season finale caused him to be placed on injured reserve for the NFL season. Released during the 2001 preseason, Hanson was picked up by the Jaguars and averaged 43.6 yards on 82 punts.

2002 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Punting

Punts – 81 [8, tied with Chris Gardocki & Dave Zastudil]

Most punts, game – 8 vs. Houston 10/27

Yards – 3583

Average – 44.2 [2, 1^st in AFC]

Best average, game – 53.2 (on 5 punts) vs. NY Jets 9/29

Punts blocked – 0

Longest punt – 64 yards

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

1^st team All-NFC: Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Jaguars went 6-10 to finish third in the AFC South.

Aftermath:

Hanson’s 2003 season ended in bizarre fashion after suffering a serious injury to his right leg when gashed by swinging an axe that had been placed along with an oak stump in the locker room by Head Coach Jack Del Rio as a motivational tool. He returned in good form in ’04 and stayed with Jacksonville for another two years. A drop in performance in 2006 caused the Jaguars to cut him in favor of rookie draftee Adam Podlesh and, after being dropped in the 2007 preseason by the Saints, Hanson moved on to New England for three years, finishing up in 2009. Overall, he averaged 42.5 yards on 577 punts, with 424 for a 42.9-yard average coming with Jacksonville.

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Highlighted Years features players who were first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970