Age: 26 (Oct.
25)
4th
season in pro football, 3rd active in NFL & 2nd 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, 1st in AFC]
Best average,
game – 53.2 (on 5 punts) vs. NY Jets 9/29
Punts blocked
– 0
Longest punt
– 64 yards
Awards &
Honors:
2nd
team All-NFL: AP
1st
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.
--
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
