Lions Pro Bowler Surprisingly Coming Out Of Retirement At Age 29
A Thanksgiving gift came early for the Detroit Lions. Four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow announced on Wednesday that he is coming out of retirement, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter and other sources.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Ragnow is in shape and “ready to roll”.
Ragnow’s journey in the NFL is a testament to grit and reinvention. He transformed himself from an overlooked draft pick into the anchor of one of the league’s most formidable offensive lines. Over seven seasons with the Lions, Ragnow battled relentless injuries while delivering elite-level play that propelled the team to contention. His abrupt retirement in June of 2025 shocked fans, making the comeback announcement all the more stunning.
Selected in the sixth round, 176th overall, out of the University of Arkansas in the 2018 NFL Draft, Ragnow quickly proved his worth. He started all 16 games at left guard as a rookie, showcasing the athleticism and intelligence that made him a steal. By 2019, he shifted to center, a position he would dominate, earning his first Pro Bowl nod the following year after logging 14 starts despite a demanding transition.
Ragnow’s accolades piled up steadily, with additional Pro Bowl appearances in 2022, 2023, and 2024, alongside three second-team All-Pro selections. In 2021, he inked a four-year, $54 million extension, the richest deal for a center at the time, reflecting his pivotal role in protecting quarterback Jared Goff and opening lanes for a resurgent run game. Across 96 regular-season starts, he maintained snap counts near 100 percent in most campaigns, committing just a handful of penalties annually.
Injuries tested his resolve repeatedly. A torn Achilles in college lingered into early pro woes, followed by a debilitating toe fracture in 2021 that sidelined him for 12 games, and chronic back issues that forced periodic absences. Yet Ragnow returned fiercer each time, starting all 16 games in 2022 and powering the Lions to 12 wins.
The 2023 season saw him anchor 15 regular-season starts plus three playoff games, including a divisional-round victory, as Detroit reached the NFC Championship for the first time in three decades. In 2024, he notched another 16 starts and a postseason appearance before the toll became overwhelming.
When Ragnow stepped away, he cited the cumulative physical strain in an emotional Instagram post. The Lions’ line faltered without him, contributing to a middling start to the 2025 campaign. But with Detroit surging toward the playoffs (boasting a 9-3 record entering Week 13), Ragnow has reversed course, signing back on for the stretch run. His return injects veteran stability into a unit eyeing a Super Bowl breakthrough.