Frank Ragnow, the former Pro Bowl center for the Detroit Lions, posted on social media Monday that he was retiring from football. This would leave the team in a huge transition. At just 29 years old, Ragnow’s decision marks the end of a seven-season career with the Lions, where he established himself as one of the league’s top centers. He was one of only two centers named to the Pro Bowl in the past three years. The other center in that elite company is Kansas City’s Creed Humphrey.
The timing of Ragnow’s retirement surprised many. There was already much speculation that he would leave for a job elsewhere after the season but even so, he’s replacement will have a huge hole to fill. The Lions are looking at replacing 40% of their starting offensive line. This quintet was instrumental in their finishing second among all five-man units in the NFL in points and touchdowns scored last season.
Even Lions head coach, and latest cult hero, Dan Campbell, clearly understood the task at hand. “You can’t minimize that loss,” he said. That assumes an enormous burden on everyone else because he’s there every day. He’s the first one in the film room, banging on the door, trying to go over the game plan. He emphasized that Ragnow’s absence changes the dynamics for the team, stating, “It’s different knowing that Frank’s out of the fold now. It is. I hate to use the word unsettling, but there is recognition such as, Alright, so this is what we’ve come to.”
Ragnow’s teammates hold him in high regard. When asked about gamesmanship, Amon-Ra St. Brown gave a poignant response to Ragnow’s ability to play through pain and how much Norsemen respect his work ethic. “He came to work, was dang-near the first guy in the building every day and was going through all those injuries but never really missed any time while I was here besides maybe my rookie year when he had surgery on his toe,” St. Brown noted. He added this interesting comment about Ragnow’s impact: You’d like to think he’s replaceable, but he’s probably irreplaceable.
While the team hopes to build off the progress made, Campbell is hopeful for their growth moving forward. He indicated a focus on quick growth within the offensive line unit, trusting in offensive line coach Hank Fraley to prepare the next players stepping into their new roles. “We need development quickly and that’s why Hank Fraley’s the coach in that room,” Campbell stated. “He’s done a hell of a job developing talent and he’s going to get these guys right — whoever it is.”
“Whenever you know it’s your time, it is the right time because it’s not fair to him and it’s not fair to his teammates or anybody else,” he explained. “I respect the hell out of him for the decision.”
Leave a Reply