The Green Bay Packers might have just gotten a major gift heading into the 2025 season — and it came straight out of Detroit.
This week, Lions All-Pro center Frank Ragnow officially announced his retirement after seven hard-fought seasons in the NFL. The move sends shockwaves through Detroit’s locker room and across the NFC North, where Ragnow has been a consistent thorn in the side of every defense, especially Green Bay’s.
For the Packers, this changes things — big time. With Ragnow gone, the Lions lose their unquestioned leader on the offensive line, a technician who gave Jared Goff the protection he needed and opened lanes for Detroit’s punishing ground game. It’s no coincidence that the Lions have won six of their last eight against the Packers — and Ragnow was a huge reason why.
Now, Green Bay’s defensive front — featuring the likes of Kenny Clark, Devonte Wyatt, Karl Brooks, and Colby Wooden — should be licking their chops. The Lions will have to plug a major hole at center, and that could open the door for chaos in the trenches when these two teams meet in Week 1 and Week 13.
Even with their own injuries in 2024, the Packers finished among the league’s best on defense, thanks in part to defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who revitalized the unit in his first year. But if Green Bay wants to take the NFC North crown in 2025, dominating the line of scrimmage against Detroit will be crucial — and Ragnow’s departure could be the edge they’ve been waiting for.
Add in the loss of Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who’s now in Chicago, and the Packers suddenly look poised to flip the script in this rivalry.
The opportunity is there. Now it’s up to the Pack to take it.
Green Bay Gets Boost: Lions’ All-Pro Center Calls It a Career
