Lions great Jason Hanson meets with fans in Battle Creek, talks about Super Bowl hopes

BATTLE CREEK - For as long as most of them have been alive, Detroit Lions fans have been thinking ‘next year’  will be the year their favorite team will finally go to a Super Bowl.

And a lot of former Detroit Lions players have had those same hopes.

Lions fans and one special former Detroit player joined up to kick off what they hope will finally be ‘the year’ at a viewing party for the first exhibition game of the season at One Nation Tap & Table restaurant in Battle Creek on Thursday, July 31.

MORE:Battle Creek fans get to 'party' with Red Wings legend Darren McCarty at One Nation

Lions fan favorite Jason Hanson, a former All-Pro kicker for the team, was in town to meet and greet fans in Battle Creek as Detroit was on national TV for the annual Hall of Fame Game.

“It’s fun to get out and meet the fans at things like this. Everybody is so excited because the team is so good and it’s fun to be a part of that,” Hanson said. “Lions fans are great. They love the guys who have played for this team over the years. I am unique, I played my entire career just with the Lions, one set of jerseys. So I get a certain kind of reaction because of that.”

Hanson has watched as the Lions have become a true Super Bowl contender the last few seasons, going a team record 15-2 in the regular season last year before falling short in the playoffs.

Like all the fans he was chatting with and signing autographs for, he hopes the Lions can take the next step in this season.

“This is what the fans deserve,” Hanson said. “Not only are they one of the best teams in the NFL, but they are excited to maybe take that next step and maybe get to the Super Bowl. And, I’m excited for the fans to finally get what they deserve.”

Hanson, who retired in 2013, played his entire 21-year career with the Detroit Lions. Setting an NFL record for most games played with one team, Hanson is the team record holder for most points scored and holds several other team marks.

“In my era, we didn’t quite get it done. But this group is doing it,” Hanson said. “This is the kind of season players have wanted to have for the Lions over the years, so everyone is excited it is finally happening for the team.”

Still a supporter of the team, Hanson has turned into a fan of the current Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates. Bates has had a surprisingly good start to his NFL career after starting as an undrafted player who began in the United Football League..

“He’s amazing,” Hanson said of Bates. “He came out of the gate and did some amazing things right away. Kickers are big part of winning and the Lions have a guy right now that can help them.”

Whoever is kicking for the team, fans are hoping there will be a lot to cheer for this season, which started Thursday with the game against the Los Angeles Chargers, played in Canton , Ohio as part of the annual Hall of Fame festivities.

“We wanted to do something for this first Lions game of the season and this thing with Jason came together,” said Austin Suedemeyer, who helps with promotions for One Nation. “People around here get excited when we bring players like this in. We are trying to do something different that other places. As a sports bar, we lean that way, like bringing in Jason Hanson. State of Michigan sports fans are so dedicated to their sports, so they love it when we can do things like this. They get a kick out of it for sure.”

Contact Bill Broderick at [email protected]. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Former Detroit Lions great Jason Hanson does meet, greet in Battle Creek