Detroit Lions’ Hogan Hatten appears to be the long snapper of the future, with a current spotless record.
Anonymity is somewhat of a blessing for long snappers. If people know the name of the long snapper on the team, it’s usually because the player drew attention to themselves due to a bad snap in a critical moment. The position is the least thought about role in football, but one of the most important at the same time. A consistent and reliable long snapper is a vital role for the special teams unit.
On our next 2025 Detroit Lions roster preview, let’s discuss long snapper Hogan Hatten.
Previous previews: QB Jared Goff , QB Hendon Hooker , RB Sione Vaki , RB Jahmyr Gibbs , WR Jameson Williams , WR Kalif Raymond, TE Sam LaPorta , OL Colby Sorsdal , OT Giovanni Manu , OT Penei Sewell , G Graham Glasgow , EDGE Aidan Hutchinson , DT Brodric Martin , DL Pat O’Connor , LB Malcolm Rodriguez , LB Grant Stuard , CB Ennis Rakestraw , CB Terrion Arnold, DB Brian Branch , K Jake Bates
Hogan Hatten
Expectations heading into 2024
Hatten was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Idaho and many expected him to be an extra body for training camp and the preseason. At the time, Detroit had Scott Daly as their long snapper for the past three seasons and it didn’t seem like there’d be much competition for that spot.
As training camp progressed into the preseason, Hatten began to surpass Daly on the depth chart. Not only were his snaps perfect, but he did something that very few long snappers in the league do: play multiple positions. In Detroit’s first preseason game of 2024 against the Giants, he took some reps as a reserve linebacker and recorded two tackles. Hatten was the starting MIKE linebacker while also taking on snapping duties at Idaho.
Actual role in 2024
17 games (17 starts) — 143 special teams snaps
Stats: 5 tackles, 0 botched snaps
PFF special teams grade: 62.6
Hatten meshed perfectly with fellow new Lion Jake Bates and veteran Jack Fox. He was as reliable as he could be, not botching a single snap on any of Bates’ 55 kicks or Fox’s 45 punts.
His defensive abilities are glaring on the punt team as well, as he tied for the most tackles by a long snapper in 2024 with five total. On punt coverage, his job after completing the snap is to book it downfield and hopefully be one of the first guys to the returner alongside the gunners. Hatten’s linebacker experience helped him be a key contributor for one of the best special teams units in the league.
When asked about Fox as a holder, special teams coordinator Dave Fipp made sure to give Hatten credit where credit is due:
“I will also say one more time, the snapper is key in the whole thing and when the guy rips the ball back there like our guy does and it’s a tight spiral, very, very catchable ball with a lot of velocity and gets in your hand quick and just sticks, I think it’s like a good quarterback, some of these guys the way they throw the ball, it just tends to stick in these guys hands. So, the way he throws the ball, Hoga back there to Fox really helps obviously.”
In an interview from November with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Hatten spoke on his consistency with his snaps :
“…I’ve yet to have truly a bad snap in a game in my entire life. I think I’ve always been a pretty confident dude in the terms that I’ve just sat and went, ‘Hey, I can do it. I can do it. I can do it.’”
Outlook for 2025
Given that the Lions did not bring in another long snapper during the offseason, it’s safe to say that this staff has full faith in Hatten being their long snapper for at least the next season.
Hatten does exactly what is expected of him in every game and it helps that he could jump in at linebacker in a pinch. The coaches speak highly of him and he has already built a strong relationship with Fox and Bates. If things work out, this could be Detroit’s special teams unit for a long time.