An injury-stricken Lions offensive line will receive a surprise boost. Frank Ragnow is set to come out of retirement, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport confirms.
The former Pro Bowl center retired after the 2024 season, one that featured him play through a significant injury. With the Lions down multiple pieces up front, an impact player is coming back. This week marked the deadline for players on a reserve/retired list to be activated to play this season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. That deadline, which loomed today for the Lions due to their Thanksgiving matchup, has proven to be rather important for this year’s Detroit edition.
Playing without guard starter Christian Mahogany (who is on IR), the Lions have seen Ragnow successor Graham Glasgow miss practice this week with a knee injury. Glasgow has been ruled out for Thursday. Glasgow, who has logged extensive time at center and guard throughout his career in Detroit and Denver, could be an option to fill in for Mahogany at guard once Ragnow returns. The Lions, also are unlikely to see left tackle Taylor Decker at full strength this season, would certainly benefit from Ragnow returning to action. Although the seven-year starter had been retired, he is only 29.
When asked about this situation earlier this month, Dan Campbell had said the ship had sailed. But the fifth-year HC, who is back in a play-calling role, will have a chance to oversee Ragnow again. Ragnow had been one of the NFL’s best centers at the time of retirement. He walked away in June, making a surprise announcement. The Lions retained his rights, as the former first-rounder’s extension ran through the 2026 season. It will certainly be worth monitoring if Ragnow views this as a one-off or if he would be interested in sticking around beyond 2025.
As for Ragnow’s current readiness, Rapoport indicates the accomplished blocker should be able to return to action “sooner, rather than later.” Ragnow is obviously not coming back for the Lions’ Thanksgiving game against the Packers, and Schefter pours cold water on a return next Thursday against the Cowboys. A Week 15 debut (against the Rams) is believed to be in play, however. This timetable is encouraging for a Lions team that had the luxury of top-level center play for an extended period.
Ragnow earned second-team All-Pro acclaim three times from 2020-24. With Jason Kelce gobbling up first-team All-Pro nods as he built a rock-solid Hall of Fame case, second-team All-Pro distinctions became the de facto ceiling for others at the position. And Ragnow played hurt en route to the second-team honor behind Creed Humphrey in 2024. Although Brandon Graham and Darren Waller have unretired this season, Ragnow represents — at this stage of his career — a higher-quality player returning. This could make a considerable difference for a Lions team in a heated NFC North battle.
Ragnow received his most recent All-Pro nod despite suffering a torn pectoral muscle early in the 2024 season. The 2018 first-round pick anchored a dominant Lions offensive line, joining Decker and Penei Sewell as pillars for a team that motored to 15-2 behind its offense.
Detroit lost dependable guard Kevin Zeitler in the offseason, replacing him with second-round pick Tate Ratledge. But Ragnow’s mid-offseason retirement brought Glasgow back to center — where he last played in 2022. The return has not gone smoothly; Pro Football Focus ranks him 28th at the position. Replacement LG Kayode Awosika has also been a slight step back from Mahogany, prompting PFF to rank the Lions’ O-line — one of the NFL’s best position groups in 2024 — 10th ahead of Week 13.
The Lions extended Ragnow on a four-year, $54MM deal — at the time, this was the NFL’s top center pact — during Campbell and GM Brad Holmes‘ first year (2021). That proved a timely signing for Ragnow, who suffered a season-ending injury early in 2021. His return helped catalyze the Campbell mission, as the Lions stormed to 9-8 after a 1-6 start. They then finished 13-4 in 2023 and steamrolled to the NFC’s No. 1 seed last season. Defensive injuries did in Detroit, which lost Ben Johnson to Chicago. Campbell yanking the play sheet from replacement John Morton was obviously not a good sign for the OC, and the Lions sit 7-4 — third in the NFC North — ahead of a crucial Packers tilt.
Following the Cowboys contest, the Lions close the season with games against the Rams, Steelers, Vikings and Bears. Ragnow being available for the final four games would stand to be a key variable in the NFC playoff race.
Now that’s a G
Plot twist!
If you had told me before Ragnow retired that the Lions were planning to keep him staying in shape and doing recovery without playing for the first 12 weeks of the season just to have him in the best shape possible for the stretch run, I wouldn’t have found that a crazy suggestion. Huge win for the Lions.
That’s kind of surprising. Those are the kind of conversations you’d like to have been in on as a fan. Great Player hope he’s gonna be OK.
If he’s in shape that is huge. Of course. If the Lions lose tomorrow and next week it doesn’t matter.
We can only hope
Derka der!
😁👀 That’s one. One more and you’re done.
Well yeah, you have to admire Frank’s loyalty to his former team but the possibility exists that this comeback could be ugly…not Mike Tyson ugly but still bad enough to have fans asking “What was he thinking?”
Thank you, Captain Rain on the Parade.
I thought I was Private Rain on the Parade but it’s nice to know someone thought I deserved a promotion.
The track record for players siting out a bunch of games and then coming back isn’t really on his side, I just hope he comes out of it healthy. I couldn’t believe he was only still 29 as it seems like he’s been around forever.
Last ditch effort because if they lose to GB they can only make playoffs with wild card. NFC West is getting two wild card spots it seems,
Hasn’t played all year, good luck lol
As a football fan, wow. That says something about his loyalty. And wanting the best for his team.
WOW, just WOW!!!!! This is awesome news. Holmes must have know something was up with Ragnow and explains why he didn’t acquire additional OL help at the trade deadline
Lol
Doubt that’s related. Good offensive lineman are hard to trade for at the deadline because even bad teams want to protect their QB from injury.
It’s too late…..
Take your money and your health, before the game takes you—he’s got nothing to prove.
Retire then unretire…just lame. Literally wants to jump on the wagon at the end and hopefully get a ring. And if you do, it just seems weak.
Go ahead, cry about my opinion. 🙄
He failed the physical, I guess it didn’t take long to get out of football shape. Back to retirement.
I’d suggest updating this article, since it’s still a top post….not the one where he failed the Physical and will not be unretiring this year…..