Detroit Lions great Frank Ragnow details his abrupt retirement, failed comeback attempt

Former Detroit Lions star center Frank Ragnow had a wild 2025 NFL season despite never playing a snap.

Ragnow, 30, retired abruptly during the summer, announcing his retirement on social media. In November, he tried to make a return to the field and sign with the Lions, only to fail his physical because of a Grade 3 hamstring strain.

The four-time Pro Bowler said he never intended to retire during the summer last year.

“To shoot it to you straight, I was trying to will myself to play, and my body was telling me otherwise. And I was just in like a paralysis if you will,” Ragnow said, according to ESPN. “I did not plan on retiring in the middle of the summer, believe it or not. I was trying to get like, ‘You can do it,’ for the guys, the fans … like, it’s who you are.

“But it’s just like I was uncomfortable, and it’s one of those things where you have a couple kids, and I don’t want a sob story,” Ragnow said. “I’m going to be completely fine and everything, but it’s one of those there where like, ‘is the juice worth the squeeze’ thing, and to me, ultimately it came down to that decision, and obviously, I struggled with that decision too.”

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Ragnow said he continued to stay in shape, which is why he attempted to unretire in November. He said he knew his hamstring was sore but had no idea how bad the injury was.

“I got hurt a day or two before I got there, and it’s unfortunate. I should’ve listened to my body probably, but it is what it is,” Ragnow said. “It’s a learning experience, and at least I can say I laid my head on the pillow at night and said I tried. I tried for the team. I tried for the fans. And it just wasn’t meant to be.”

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He spent his entire seven-year career with the Lions after being drafted by the team in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Following the 2021 season, Lions general manager Brad Holmes made Ragnow the league’s highest-paid center at the time with a four-year, $54 million contract. 

The center made the Pro Bowl in consecutive seasons after signing the contract, as he remained one of the best centers in the sport despite battling injuries throughout his career. In his final season, Ragnow played through a partially torn pectoral muscle and still played in 16 games.

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