Frank Ragnow Comes Out of Retirement, Returns to Lions
Center Frank Ragnow ends his retirement to rejoin the Detroit Lions, providing a crucial boost as the team competes for a playoff spot.
Center Frank Ragnow is ending his retirement and rejoining the Detroit Lions, the team announced via social media on Thanksgiving, marking a significant reinforcement for a franchise still in Super Bowl contention.
Ragnow, 29, retired after seven seasons in Juneβa surprise move that dealt a blow to Detroit's championship aspirations. Now he's back.
A Star Lineman Returns
The comeback reunites the Lions with one of the league's elite interior offensive linemen. In 2024, his final season before retirement, Ragnow earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection and was named second-team All-Pro for the third time. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the third-best center in the league, crediting him for allowing just two sacks and 21 pressures across the regular season and postseason.
Timing and Impact
The Lions sit at 7-4, one game behind the Bears in the NFC North. Starting center Graham Glasgow is sidelined with a knee injury that will keep him out of Thursday's game against the Packers. Ragnow won't be available for that matchup either, and his timeline for returning remains unclear.
Still, his addition addresses a critical position as Detroit makes its playoff push.
Built Different
Ragnow's reputation extends beyond statistics. He played through a partially torn pectoral muscle for much of the 2024 season. In 2023, he missed only one game after meniscus surgery and didn't miss a snap after suffering a sprained ankle and knee during the Lions' NFC Divisional Round win over Tampa Bay.
His most brutal instance came in 2020 when he fractured his throat during a gameβand finished playing despite being unable to communicate. He sat out the next two games before returning.
