C.J. Hanson Bio
Christopher “C. J.” Hanson, born on March 3, 2001, is an American professional football guard for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing approximately 300 pounds, Hanson plays the interior offensive line and was selected by the Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft. He played his college football at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, where he developed into one of the top offensive linemen in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
A native of Bergen County, New Jersey, Hanson rose from a lightly recruited high school prospect to a professional athlete in one of the most physically demanding positions in football. His path from a zero-star recruit to the NFL is a notable example of perseverance, technical refinement, and consistency at the collegiate level.
Early Life and Background
C.J. Hanson was born on March 3, 2001, and grew up in Wyckoff, a township in Bergen County, New Jersey. His first exposure to organized football came in second grade through flag football, before he transitioned to tackle football in third grade. Like many young athletes in northern New Jersey, Hanson also played lacrosse during his developmental years, which helped build his overall athleticism, hand-eye coordination, and physical toughness.
He attended DePaul Catholic High School, where he spent four years on the varsity football team. Hanson did not crack the starting lineup until his senior season, when he emerged as a starting left guard. That year, he was recognized as a first-team All-County selection and a second-team All-State honoree, helping DePaul Catholic capture a league championship. Despite the late high school rise, he committed to continue his football career at the College of the Holy Cross, an FCS program, arriving as a zero-star recruit with little external fanfare.
Path to Professional Football
Hanson joined the Holy Cross Crusaders as part of the 2019 recruiting class, a class that included future NFL receiver Jalen Coker. He redshirted his first year on campus, appearing in only three games while adjusting to the speed and physicality of collegiate play. The following season, in the spring 2021 COVID-affected schedule, he recorded his first career start while still splitting time at guard.
By 2021, Hanson had earned the starting role at right guard and began the ascent that would define his college career. He went on to start 38 consecutive games across three full seasons as a primary starter, helping the Crusaders post winning records in each campaign. His combination of size, technique, and leadership drew national attention, and he was invited to both the East-West Shrine Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine, becoming only the third or fourth Holy Cross player ever invited to the combine and the first since 1988.
C.J. Hanson Career
Early Career (2019-2021)
Hanson began his collegiate career as a developmental prospect on the Holy Cross offensive line. After a redshirt season in 2019, in which he appeared in three games, he spent the 2020-21 season rotating into the lineup and recording his first start. Those early years were essential for building the technical foundation that would later define his play at the professional level.
In 2021, Hanson won the starting right guard job outright and started all 13 games for the Crusaders. That season, he was recognized as a second-team All-Patriot League selection by Phil Steele, and the team posted a 10-3 overall record. The full-time starting role marked a turning point, transforming Hanson from a depth piece into a foundational blocker for the Holy Cross offensive front.
Holy Cross Breakthrough (2022-2023)
The 2022 season represented Hanson’s first true breakout year. Starting all 13 games at guard, he earned first-team All-Patriot League honors and helped the Crusaders compile a 12-1 record, one of the best seasons in program history. His steady play in the run game and his pass protection were central to the team’s offensive success, and his physicality set a new standard along the interior line.
As a senior team captain in 2023, Hanson started all 11 games and put together the most complete season of his college career. He was named first-team All-Patriot League, All-ECAC, All-New England, and third-team All-American by Stats Perform, and he later received first-team FCS All-American recognition. Statistically, he played 321 pass-blocking snaps without surrendering a single sack and allowed only eight pressures, while helping Holy Cross rank in the top six nationally in rushing offense, total offense, and scoring offense. He finished his career having started 38 games.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2024-Present)
Hanson was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 248th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft, becoming the first Holy Cross player to be drafted since Rob McGovern in 1989, who was also a Chiefs selection. The connection between the two Holy Cross draftees and the same franchise was a notable storyline for both programs. Hanson joined a Chiefs roster with championship aspirations and entered a competitive offensive line room.
As part of final roster cuts on August 26, 2025, Hanson was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. His performance on the practice squad was strong enough to earn a promotion back to the active roster on December 13. Hanson’s ability to bounce back from release reflects the high regard the Chiefs organization has for his developmental trajectory and his fit within the team’s offensive scheme.
Playing Style and Strengths
Hanson is a tall, long-armed interior lineman whose game is built around leverage, hand placement, and pass protection discipline. At Holy Cross, he demonstrated an unusual ability to avoid sacks over extended stretches, suggesting strong awareness and technique against power rushers. His lacrosse background contributed to his lateral mobility and agility, while his frame gives him the mass to anchor against bull rushes in the trenches.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hanson’s most significant career milestones include his 2023 first-team FCS All-American and All-Patriot League honors, his invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine as one of the first Holy Cross players invited since 1988, and his selection in the 2024 NFL draft. His re-signing with the Chiefs’ practice squad and subsequent promotion to the active roster in December 2025 marked his first official steps on an NFL game-day roster.
C.J. Hanson Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Public information about C.J. Hanson’s family background is limited, and detailed records about his parents, siblings, or extended relatives are not widely documented in available sources. Hanson grew up in Wyckoff, New Jersey, and has remained connected to his hometown throughout his football journey. His multi-sport upbringing in northern New Jersey, including lacrosse and youth tackle football, helped shape the athletic foundation that carried him to the professional level.
2025 Season Performance
Hanson’s 2025 season began with an uncertain outlook after he was waived by the Kansas City Chiefs as part of final roster cuts in late August. His quick re-signing to the practice squad the following day suggested that the organization viewed him as a developmental prospect worth retaining and protecting within the system. The move reflected both his promise and the depth of the Chiefs’ offensive line group.
On December 13, 2025, Hanson was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, indicating that his work behind the scenes had translated into performance the team was ready to use at the game level. While specific in-game statistics from his active-roster appearances are not yet fully documented, the promotion underscores his continued progress within one of the NFL’s most successful recent franchises.
Looking ahead, Hanson’s 2025 trajectory suggests he is firmly on the developmental track the Chiefs envisioned when they drafted him. With another full offseason of work in the Kansas City strength and conditioning program, he is positioned to compete for a more permanent role along the interior offensive line and to build on his unique legacy as one of the few Holy Cross products to reach an NFL active roster in the modern era.