The Detroit Lions are heading into the 2025 season with high hopes and Super Bowl dreams—but those plans took a major hit this week. Star center Frank Ragnow announced on Instagram that he’s retiring from the NFL at just 29 years old, and it didn’t take long for his teammates to respond.
One of the first to weigh in was wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who kept it short but meaningful, commenting, “much deserved ❤️.” It’s clear there’s a lot of respect in that locker room for what Ragnow gave to the team.
Ragnow walks away from the game with two years remaining on a four-year, $54 million deal. But with $79 million already earned in his seven NFL seasons, money wasn’t a factor. His decision was all about health and long-term well-being.
The longtime anchor of Detroit’s offensive line, Ragnow was coming off his fourth Pro Bowl selection and a third nod as a Second-Team All-Pro. Pro Football Focus gave him an 85.3 overall grade last season, ranking him as the third-best center in the NFL. His 90.8 run-blocking grade was also third among all centers.
Despite entering the league as the 20th overall pick in 2018, Ragnow lived up to every bit of hype and more. Now the Lions are left with a major void in the middle of their offensive line—and some big shoes to fill heading into a season full of promise.
Amon-Ra St. Brown Reacts to Frank Ragnow’s Shocking Retirement
