Cesar Tordesillas

Jason Hanson, the longest-tenured player in the NFL, has announced his retirement after 21 seasons of kicking field goals for the Detroit Lions.

A second-round pick in the 1992 draft by Detroit, Hanson informed the Lions that he wanted to play for at least one more year but failed to iron out a contract agreement.

The Lions offered the 42-year-old Hanson a contract worth around $1 million but the veteran kicker turned it down.

Instead of playing for another team, Hanson decided to call it a career.

Hanson holds NFL records for most 50-yard field goals (52) and games played with one team (327), He ranks third in league history in total field goals (495) and points (2,150).

He made 32 of 36 kicks last year, but missed a potential game-winner in a loss to the Houston Texans on Thanksgiving Day.

During the NFL owners meeting last week, Lions president Tom Lewand said there was no guarantee that Hanson would be back for a 22nd season due to salary cap restraints.

"It's not a system that provides for a lot of allowance for sentimentality," Lewand said. "We have the utmost respect for Jason and want to have him back, but it's a situation where everything has to fit."

Hanson was the second Lions player to retire, following Jeff Backus, who announced his decision to step away from the game after 12 seasons two weeks ago.

The Lions are now looking at former San Francisco 49ers kicker David Akers, Justin Medlock and Havard Rugland to replace Hanson.

The 38-year-old Akers is a six-time Pro Bowler but struggled most of the season due to a hip injury. Last season, he missed 13 of 42 field-goal attempts.

Last year, Akers tied an NFL record with a 63-yard field goal in a season-opening win over the Green Bay Packers.

Detroit Lions Kicker Jason Hanson Retires After 21 NFL Seasons - NFL 2013