The Detroit Lions’ All-Pro center Frank Ragnow has informed the team that his playing days have come to an end. The 29-year-old snapper played seven years in the National Football League, all of them wearing the Honolulu Blue. The kings of the NFC North are looking to repeat the success of last season, and this may be a slight bump in the road. Ragnow was part of one of the NFL’s elite offensive lines, and his presence will be missed. How will this affect the Detroit Lions going forward?
Frank Ragnow’s College and Lions’ Career
Ragnow made a name for himself at the University of Arkansas. As a Razorback, he made the Southeastern Conference’s All-Freshman Team in 2014. He followed that up with receiving the honors of First Team All-SEC and First Team All-American in back-to-back seasons in 2016 and 2017.
Detroit made Frank Ragnow a first-round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, going 20th overall. Since joining the NFL, Ragnow has been a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time All-Pro. For many years, he was the anchor of the Lions’ offensive line. Not only were his contributions on the field felt, but his contributions off the field may have been even more significant. His community impact resulted in his nomination for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. He also started all 96 games of his career that he was healthy enough to play.
Final Thoughts
Frank Ragnow was one of the best centers in the entire NFL. The Detroit Lions will look to fill the void with veteran guard Graham Glasgow. Glasgow has ten years of experience, and the team is confident the former Michigan Wolverine will be able to make the transition. This adds to the drastic changes for the defending North champions. After losing coordinators Aaron Glenn to the New York Jets and Ben Johnson going to division rival Chicago Bears, Ragnow adds to the list of obstacles these 2025 Lions will face. Now you can add Frank Ragnow to the list of Detroit Lions who have retired early. First it was Barry Sanders, then Calvin Johnson, and now Frank Ragnow!
