Frank Ragnow may be stepping away from football, but Detroit Lions fans are making sure he knows just how much he meant to the city—both on and off the field.
Following the veteran center’s retirement announcement, fans began donating to Ragnow’s foundation, Rags Remembered, which supports kids dealing with loss or hardship. In less than a day, nearly $10,000 poured in, with fans giving symbolic amounts like $77 and $7.70 in honor of Ragnow’s jersey number.
The foundation shared the heartwarming news on social media, thanking fans for their generosity: “After Frank announced his official retirement from the NFL, fans have been donating… to thank him for his impact on the Lions and his support for grieving families in Detroit.”
Ragnow, speaking at his annual skeet shooting charity event, kept his remarks brief but emotional. “Obviously it’s been a very hectic week and I’m going to try not to get emotional,” he said. “I would really love today to be a positive, exciting day about the foundation.”
Ragnow leaves behind big shoes to fill—both as a player and as a person. His presence in the locker room and the community will be deeply missed. While the Lions work to find his successor on the field, fans have already shown that his legacy in Detroit goes far beyond football.
$77 at a Time: Lions Fans Honor Frank Ragnow With Heartfelt Gesture
