Former defensive coordinator Rob Ryan's portrait of Hanson seemed to confirm Hanson's relentless pursuit of his dream job.
"He doesn't sleep at night, he just studies, studies, studies," Ryan said Aug. 8, 2007. "And this guy was hired to (break down opponents) for us, personnelwise, and he's been tremendous. Smartest guy. Like I say, 'Man, you might be the smartest guy in the National Football League.'
Known for his intense work ethic and aptitude in breaking down opponents’ tendencies, Hanson was a highly regarded offensive assistant during a three-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings from 2003 to 2005.
“Randy Hanson’s a great coach,” said former Vikings center Matt Birk, a perennial Pro Bowl selection now with the Baltimore Ravens. “He would break down opposing defenses for us, and he was outstanding. He’s an extremely hard worker. That used to be the joke – he never stopped. He’d sleep in the office and watch every bit of tape he could find.”
Added former Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson: “I really enjoyed being around him. He brought a lot of flavor to the room and to the field, and I thought he had a lot of insights into game plans.”
After spending the ’06 season with the St. Louis Rams, Hanson was let out of his contract to join first-year coach Lane Kiffin’s Oakland staff because, he says, then Rams-coach Scott Linehan was aware of his devotion to the Raiders. In Oakland, he worked as an assistant secondary coach in charge of third-down defenses and impressed his fellow coaches with his knowledge of opposing offenses and his ability to convey his insights to the players.
“He knows what the opposing team’s gonna do before they know what they’re gonna do,” said one former Raiders assistant who worked closely with Hanson. “That’s how much tape he watches. And he’s a damn good football coach, too.”
