The Detroit Lions got an unexpected boost Wednesday afternoon, with the organization announcing that former All-Pro center Frank Ragnow is coming out of retirement to join the team.
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 26, 2025
Ragnow, 29, announced his sudden retirement from the sport in June, citing the physical toll he had suffered from multiple injuries over his seven-year career.
In an Instagram post, Ragnow called the decision to retire “one of the hardest decisions of my life” and said it’s “time to prioritize my health and my family’s future.”
The center earned three second-team All-Pro selections and four Pro Bowl selections during his time with the Lions. The year before his retirement, he was named to the second team and was one of the best players on the league’s top offense last season.
His loss has hindered Detroit’s offensive line this season, as the Lions struggled to replace the 2018 first-round pick out of Arkansas. While the Lions’ offense remains among the NFL’s best, averaging 29.6 points and 378.5 yards per game, it has scored less than than 20 points three times this season after doing so just twice last year.
In Detroit’s matchups against strong defensive lines (Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers) the offensive line has been leaky. According to Pro Football Reference, quarterback Jared Goff has been pressured 94 times this year, the fifth most in the league. Goff’s been hit 49 times this season — the third most in the league behind Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes.
It’s unclear when Ragnow will be activated or join the team, but he’ll be a massive boost to the offense. The Lions are in a three-way battle with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears in the NFC North. Detroit plays Green Bay on Thanksgiving in a critical divisional battle.
If he’s anywhere close to his pre-retirement form, Ragnow’s return should further solidify one of the NFL’s top offenses and could help re-establish Detroit as a Super Bowl contender.
Significance of Ragnow’s return to Lions
Ragnow just made this a happy Thanksgiving for folks in Detroit — well before kickoff. This is massive news. No other way around that. When Ben Johnson left, it was expected. Ragnow’s retirement, though, was a far more impactful loss — and harder to plan for. Ragnow was the glue to this offensive line. He could do it all. His ability to clear out defenders in the run game while neutralizing interior pressure made him one of the best centers of his era. His intensive scouting of opposing defenses helped quarterback Jared Goff and this Lions’ offensive line call out blitzes at the line of scrimmage and limit sacks. Without him, the Lions’ run game and pass protection haven’t been as efficient this season. The offense has struggled at times as a result. The Lions tried to adjust on the fly, inserting veteran Graham Glasgow at center, but he’s simply not Ragnow. Few are.
That’s why his return is so significant. He’ll likely need a few weeks to ramp up, but assuming he can play to his standards, the ceiling of this offense and team was just raised significantly. It’s unclear how long Ragnow’s return will last, but having him around the building could do wonders for Detroit’s young interior lineman — most notably rookie guard Tate Ratledge. This is shocking, but welcomed, news for those in Detroit. — Colton Pouncy, Lions staff writer