Just a month ago, Frank Ragnow, the Detroit Lions’ Pro Bowl center, one of the league’s best centers, proclaimed his professional football retirement at 29 years old. Ragnow’s choice just shows how mentally tough he’s been since entering the league. Despite fighting through several injuries, including a partially torn pectoral muscle, he still only missed one game last year. Ragnow’s announcement, released in a touching post on Instagram, is an expression of appreciation not only for the Lions organization but most importantly for their fans.
Ragnow’s shown his toughness after starting all 16 games last season while still dealing with several injuries, a pattern throughout his career. Specifically, during the 2021 NFL season, when he only missed one game (the team’s Week 4 contest against the Seattle Seahawks) with the pectoral injury. At one point in a prior season, he even took the field with a broken throat, proving that he would do anything for the organization.
The center’s odyssey was also derailed by a nasty toe injury that eventually required surgical repair. Ragnow went as far as to say it was “the worst degree of turf toe.” That meant he had to set up the rest of his career around compensating for this injury. Despite these challenges, he did not miss a start after a pivotal point in his tenure, earning him accolades, including three consecutive Pro Bowl selections.
In 2021, Ragnow cemented his reputation as one of the top centers in the league. General manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell made sure of that, blessing him with a four-year, $54 million extension that made him the highest-paid center in the NFL at the time. His contributions, on the field and off, were key in helping solidify the Lions’ offensive line.
“These past couple of months have been very trying as I’ve come to the realization that my football journey is ending and I’m officially retiring from the NFL,” Ragnow stated. He was extremely grateful to the Lions organization. As he said, “I need to listen to my body, and this has been one of the most difficult decisions of my life.” The support from the Lions organization has been amazing throughout this process. There aren’t enough adjectives in the world for how thankful I am to have such a dope team and all of you passionate fans! It was an immense privilege fighting on your collective behalf.
Whatever happens from here on out, the Lions are going to have to move forward without Ragnow. They’re probably teeing up Tate Ratledge, their second-rounder from Georgia, to step in. Ratledge’s arrival adds a new chapter to the Lions’ offensive line as they seek to fill the void left by Ragnow’s departure.
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