The Detroit Lions have another massive hole to fill.
Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow announced on Monday that he is retiring after seven seasons in the NFL, stating that "it's time to prioritize my health" and his family's future.
"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," Ragnow wrote in a post on social media. "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 (sic) 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."
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport first reported the news of Ragnow's retirement.
A first-round pick in 2018, Ragnow has been one of the NFL's very best pivots during his run in Detroit. He has been named a second-team All-Pro three times and generated four Pro Bowl nods, including each of the past three seasons.
Ragnow had not been at the Lions' voluntary organized team activities this spring. There were some reports that he sought a contract extension. Instead, the heart of the Lions' interior offensive line will walk away for good.
Ragnow began his career at left guard before moving to center full-time in 2019, where he flourished as a bully in the middle of the Lions' offensive renaissance.
The 29-year-old has played through a litany of injuries during his career, including a pectoral injury early in 2024. Despite a potentially lengthy injury, Ragnow returned after missing just one game. While discussing the injury in September, head coach Dan Campbell affectionally called Ragnow "stubborn" and "hard-headed."
"He's tough, he's stubborn, and so he wants to go and he always wants to go," Campbell said at the time.
With a laundry list of injuries throughout his seven seasons -- concussion, groin, throat, foot, knee and pectoral -- Ragnow missed 20 regular-season tilts, while playing through issues in many more.
One of the top centers in the NFL during his run, Ragnow particularly excelled in the ground game as a brute force.
The retirement leaves a gigantic hole in the middle of the Lions' offensive line. Fortunately for Detroit, general manager Brad Holmes has stocked the interior in the last two drafts. In 2025, he selected guards Tate Ratledge in the second round and Miles Frazier in Round 5. The Lions selected Christian Mahogany in the sixth round in 2024. The youngsters are guards, but offensive line coach Hank Fraley is known to cross-train his players.
Detroit could shift veteran Graham Glasgow to center, where he's played more than 2,600 snaps in his nine seasons. During OTAs, Ratledge has also trained at center and guard with Ragnow out and could make the transition to pivot as a rookie. Detroit also has reserve center Michael Niese on the roster.
The Lions offense entered the offseason with questions after Ben Johnson left for Chicago. Now, they'll have another significant hole to fill come training camp. Jared Goff will have a new voice in his ear and a new center snapping him the pigskin.
