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 with 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 able to play this season was Wednesday.
The Lions announced that Ragnow, 29, has been placed on the commissioner’s exempt/permission list.
Ragnow’s first opportunity to play with the Lions will be next Thursday against the Dallas Cowboys, although his immediate return is unlikely. It is more likely that his return to the field will be on December 14 against the Rams in Los Angeles.
Ragnow’s contractual rights with the Lions are maintained for two more seasons, the current one and the next. His contract will be reset this week.
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 awarded him the highest contract extension for a center in the league at that time, worth $54 million and four years.
In 2024, he participated in 16 games, missing only the Week 4 game against Seattle due to a partial pectoral muscle tear. After that, he didn’t miss any games and was selected for the Pro Bowl for the third consecutive time. Without Ragnow at the start of this season, veteran Graham Glasgow filled the center position for the Lions, who currently have a 7-4 record.
In another move, the Lions activated defensive end Marcus Davenport from the injured reserve. Davenport had been on the injured list since September 22 due to a chest injury.
