Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement from the NFL after seven seasons Monday.
In an Instagram post, Ragnow called the decision to retire “one of the hardest decisions of my life” and said it’s “time to prioritize my health and my family’s future.”
“The Lions organization has been absolutely incredible throughout this process and I can’t emphasize this enough how grateful I am for this team and all the fans. It was an absolute honor going to battle for you all,” the 29-year-old wrote on Instagram.
Detroit’s toughest player
A first-round pick out of Arkansas in 2018, Ragnow gave his heart and soul to this franchise. He’s the definition of a warrior and was one of the longest-tenured players on the roster, surviving a rebuild to be a mainstay on a winning Lions team.
Ragnow has been one of the game’s best centers since he joined the league, earning Pro Bowl honors four times and All-Pro honors three times in his seven-year career, including second-team honors this past season. His retirement had nothing to do with performance. He was still at the top of his game.
There have been some rumblings about a potential Ragnow retirement for a few seasons, and it makes sense when you consider what he’s been through. His list of injuries reads more like a shopping list, suffering foot, pec, knee, groin, ankle and even throat injuries throughout his career. He played through many of those injuries, though, surprising even his teammates and coaches and earning a reputation as Detroit’s toughest player. However, the wear and tear Ragnow accumulated led to questions about his future.
Here’s what Lions GM Brad Holmes had to say when asked about the possibility of Ragnow retiring in February 2024: “Ragnow, it’s only one of them on the planet, in my opinion,” Holmes said. “But I have so much respect for him and for everything that he goes through and fights through that I’m just respectful of his time and his thoughts. And we’re not going to pressure him to do anything or make any moves. But the communication will be diligent. It’ll be thorough. It’ll be respectful.”
Ragnow ultimately played in 2024, but has been noticeably absent from Detroit’s offseason workouts. The Lions opened Friday’s OTA session to the media, and Ragnow was not among the list of players who were limited or not participating in practice, as provided by Dan Campbell before the session began. Just days later, Ragnow took to Instagram to announce his retirement.
So now, life without Ragnow begins, and while not completely unexpected, it’s a major blow to one of the league’s best offensive lines. Ragnow was Mr. Consistent at center and paved the way for one of the league’s best rushing offenses. He also helped keep Jared Goff upright, and his vast football IQ helped Goff identify blitzes at the line of scrimmage. There is still talent along the offensive line, but this is a huge loss for a contender like the Lions. — Colton Pouncy, Lions beat writer
Where do the Lions go from here?
Veteran guard Graham Glasgow has been Ragnow’s primary backup for the past two seasons. At the owner’s meetings in April, Campbell highlighted Glasgow’s ability to move to center and how much they value his versatility. The Lions selected Georgia guard Tate Ratledge in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, and the team has been repping him at center in rookie minicamp and OTAs. As things currently stand, they appear to be the top in-house candidates to replace Ragnow. If one of them moves inside, the Lions still have second-year Christian Mahogany and rookie Miles Frazier to pick up the slack at guard. — Pouncy
(Photo: Nic Antaya / Getty Images)
