The Detroit Lions finished the 2024 regular season as the No. 1 seed in the NFC before shockingly losing to the Washington Commanders in the playoffs.
Still, there are high hopes for the Lions, and Dan Campbell as the head coach has provided a much-needed spark for the franchise.
However, the Lions saw a big piece retire from the NFL on Monday: Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow, as he mentioned in an Instagram post.
"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. 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 families future. I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don’t. I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. 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."
Ragnow is a four-time Pro Bowler, but he recently was not seen at OTAs as some wondered if he was hoping for a new contract.
Ragnow did have two years remaining on his deal, but none of it was guaranteed.
Ragnow played college football at Arkansas and was the 20th overall pick by the Lions in 2018. He spent his entire career in Detroit, playing a total of 96 regular-season games, so this will be a tough blow to the Detroit offensive line going forward.
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