Picture this: Divisional Round between the Lions and the Bucs (2023 season). Late in the third quarter, the Lions were locked in a tense 10-10 tie with the Buccaneers. Facing a critical fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line, head coach Dan Campbell made the bold decision to go for it. The ball was handed to third-string running back Craig Reynolds, who wasn’t even supposed to be on the field for that play.

But let’s face it—everyone remembers the touchdown. Fourth-and-goal. Ball at the one. Reynolds is in the backfield. But sometimes, what folks forget is who made it happen. Frank Ragnow—already limping through a busted knee and ankle—lines up across from Tampa’s mountain-of-a-man Vita Vea… and still clears a lane. That block? That was pain, grit, and pure stubbornness wrapped into one snap. Reynolds took full advantage. Touchdown. Lions took the lead. But Ragnow was hurt. He was in pain.

Fast forward, and now that the Lions’ center has hung up his cleats, the head coach, Dan Campbell, recalled that fourth-and-goal and called it one of his favorite Frank Ragnow moments. “Start with Frank, man. Frank’s been an unbelievable teammate, football player, man in the community, man, he’s done it all, and he will be, he will be sorely missed,” Campbell recently said, honoring the Lions’ legend after his retirement.

“One of the greatest memories I have of Frank was divisional against Tampa Bay, fourth and one. We run downhill to Craig Reynolds, man, and he’s got big boy, and he hits him, and he kind of hits the knee, and then he has to get back up and top the block. We score man. It was huge, you know, this type of player he was. So he will be missed.” The head coach got teary-eyed while recalling the former Lions center’s gritty play.

Following the retirement of Ragnow, no doubt that the Lions’ offensive line is kind of stuck in a limbo. With Ragnow gone, the Lions still have the veteran Graham Glasgow. And maybe, just maybe—if Glasgow missed out on a few games in the 2025 season… let’s say, because of an unforeseen injury, then Detroit will have to start with the youngest G-C-G trio in the league.

And Campbell knew the importance of Ragnow and the void he left after hanging up his cleats. “Man, this train goes on. The train rolls on,” the HC said. “It’s the next man up. We’ll be ready to go when camp hits. We’ve got plenty of versatility up there. We like the guys that we drafted. We like our free agents that we brought in. The young guys.” Ragnow played for just seven seasons in the NFL with the Lions, no doubt.

But it was his physicality that led him to announce his retirement at the age of just 29.

Frank Ragnow prioritizes his health and his family’s future

During his time with the Lions, Frank Ragnow’s body took a beating for seven seasons. The Lions’ legend played through everything—fractured throat (yup, that’s real), turf toe that benched him for most of the 2021 season, a torn pec, busted ankle, messed-up toes, even a concussion. You name it. “A certified psycho.” That’s what Ragnow’s brother called him.

It’s like every season, the guy added a different injury to his collection. But let’s be real—despite all the highs and lows, Ragnow still showed up, snapped the ball, and bulldozed defenders while suffering the pain. Always. But now, it was time to prioritize his health before it gets too late. And the former Lions’ center knew it pretty well.

“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 announced his retirement via a post on his Instagram. “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 family’s 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.”

Right after that went down, Ragnow’s wife, Lucy Ragnow, slid into his comment section and shared a message for her husband. “Beyond proud of you,” she wrote. “I’m so honored to be your wife and to have had a front row seat to everything you’ve accomplished in your career. Big things ahead. Love you X 100000.” Well, his post-retirement plans are still unclear.

Is he going to be a coach? Or is he going to enter the broadcasting world? We’ve no clue. But as his wife said, big things are ahead for the Lions’ legend.