He played college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd, and was signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 1999.

He also played professionally for the Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots.

[1] Hanson attended East Coweta High School in Sharpsburg, Georgia, where he played place kicker, punter, and receiver for head coach Danny Cronic.

Later in the year, Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio placed a wooden stump and axe in the locker room as a symbol of his theme advising players to "keep choppin' wood".

Hanson was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in September 2005, with four punts downed inside the 20-yard line during that period.

In their 2007 training camp, the Patriots' punting competition appeared to be between veteran Josh Miller and first-year player Danny Baugher.

He helped lead the 2007 Patriots to a 16–0 regular season record, an AFC Championship, and a trip to Super Bowl XLII.

Hanson finished the 2009 season with a 39.7 punt average, helping the Patriots win the 2009 AFC East Division title.