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The Detroit Lions got a big boost to their offense on Wednesday.
Four-time Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow came out of retirement and is rejoining the team, according to multiple reports. The Lions apparently confirmed the reports by posting a photo of Ragnow running out of the tunnel to social media.
Ragnow, 29, abruptly retired from the team in June. He wrote on social media that he had tried to convince himself he was ready to play, but said it was time to prioritize his health instead. He had spent his entire seven-year career with the Lions after being drafted by the team in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
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Frank Ragnow (77) of the Detroit Lions looks on during an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Dec. 30, 2024. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
“I’ve given this team everything I’ve got and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I just don’t,” Ragnow said in an Instagram post in June. “I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life.”
“The last few months have been very trying as I have come to the realization that my football journey is coming to an end and I am officially retiring from the NFL,” Ragnow continued. “The Lions organization has been absolutely incredible throughout this process and I can’t stress enough how grateful I am to this team and all the fans. It was an absolute honor to fight for all of you.”
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Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) warms up before the game between the Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. (Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
After 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 as he remained one of the best centers in the sport despite battling injuries throughout his career. The contract he signed runs through the 2026 season, so when he returns to Detroit, his deal will remain in place.
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If a player is on the club’s reserve-retired list, he must be reinstated before the team’s Week 13 game in order to play this season, according to ESPN. With the Lions playing on Thanksgiving against the Green Bay Packers, Wednesday was the last day Ragnow could have returned and be eligible to play.
Ragnow’s return is a huge boost for the 7-4 Lions, who currently sit in third place in the NFC North. It is unclear when Ragnow will make his 2025 season debut.
The Lions play the Packers at 1pm ET tomorrow on FOX.
