In rather stunning news a few months before the start of the season, Lions' All-Pro center Frank Ragnow is calling it a career.
Ragnow, 29, has played through numerous injuries for several years and was notably absent last week at OTA's. On Monday, he announced his retirement: "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 wrote on Instagram.
"I've tried to convince myself that I'm feeling good but I'm not and it's time to prioritize my health and my family's future," he said. "I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don't."
Ragnow had two years left on his contract, with cap hits of about $14 million this season and $16 million next. He managed to play in all but four games over the past three seasons despite his body taking a beating, starting in 2021 with a chronic and crippling injury that required surgery on his "stupid toe." He ignored the pain for the next three years.
He played through a fractured throat against the Packers in 2020 and a partially torn pec against the Cardinals in 2024, both times without missing a snap. Knee and back injuries plagued him in 2023, along with ankle, groin and foot injuries along the way. And those are just the ailments we know about.
"I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life," Ragnow said. "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."
After the fractured throat, Ragnow told Matthew Stafford in a hoarse whisper, "I can’t really talk, just to let you know. Make sure you’re communicating with everybody up front." Then he put his head down and kept playing. After the pec injury, Ragnow told Jared Goff, "I think I tore my pec," prompting Goff to ask Ragnow if he was going to take himself out of the game.
"And he's like, 'No I'm good,'" Goff said. "And I'm like, 'Alright, well, let's go, let's finish the game.'"
"I don't know if I've played with anybody who's played through more pain and injuries than him," said Goff. "So if that's tough, then damn right, he is the toughest guy I've played with."
With Ragnow gone from the offensive line, the Lions' strongest unit suddenly has a glaring hole. Veteran Graham Glasgow and rookie Tate Ratledge are the top two candidates to step in at center, with Ratledge having taken the bulk of his snaps there in team activities this offseason. He was a starting guard for three years at Georgia.
A first-round pick in 2017, Ragnow leaves the NFL having played in exactly 100 games including the playoffs. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and three-time second-team All-Pro and one of the best players at his position in franchise history.