The Detroit Lions will have a new kicker this fall for the first time since 1992.
Jason Hanson, the NFL’s longest-tenured player, announced his retirement Thursday after 21 seasons.
A second-round pick in the 1992 draft and a Lions staple since, Hanson had originally told the Lions he wanted to play at least one more year, but the two sides were unable to come to a contract agreement and Hanson has said he does no
The Lions made Hanson, 42, a take-it-or-leave-it offer earlier this month for around $1 million. Phil Dawson, 38 and coming off his first Pro Bowl, set the market for veteran kickers two weeks ago when he got a one-year free-agent deal from the San Francisco 49ers for $2.35 million.
Hanson holds NFL records for most 50-yard field goals (52) and games played with one team (327), and ranks third in league history in total field goals (495) and points (2,150
He made 32 of 36 kicks last year, but three of his misses hit an upright, including the potential game-winner in a Thanksgiving loss to the Houston Texans.
Lions president Tom Lewand said at the NFL owners meetings last week there was no guarantee Hanson would be back given the constraints of the salary cap. The Lions began today with the 15th most cap space in the NFL, about $6.8 million.
