Frank Ragnow Comes Out of Retirement to Play for the Lions
The four-time Pro-Bowl center, Frank Ragnow, has decided to come out of retirement and return to play for the Detroit Lions.
A source revealed that Ragnow made this decision because “he loves the game.” The deadline for Ragnow to come out of retirement and be eligible to play this season expired on Wednesday.
The Lions announced that Ragnow, 29, has been placed on the commissioner’s exemption/permission list.
Ragnow’s first opportunity to play with the Lions will be next Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys, although his immediate return is considered unlikely. The December 14th game against the Rams in Los Angeles seems to be the most likely target for his return.
The Lions still hold Ragnow’s contractual rights for two seasons: this one and the next. When Ragnow returns to Detroit this week, his contract will be reinstated.
Ragnow announced his retirement in June after seven seasons in the NFL.
Throughout his career, he has dealt with multiple injuries. In 2021, after playing with a fractured throat, general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell made him the highest-paid center in the league at the time, with a four-year, $54 million extension.
In 2024, he played 16 games, missing only the Week 4 game against Seattle due to a partial tear of the pectoral muscle. He missed no starts after that and was named to the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive season. Without Ragnow at the start of this season, veteran lineman Graham Glasgow filled the center position for the Lions, who have a 7-4 start to the season.
In another move on Tuesday, the Lions activated defensive end Marcus Davenport from injured reserve. Davenport had been on the injured list since September 22 due to a chest injury.
