The Detroit Lions are losing a major piece of their offense with center Frank Ragnow officially retiring. Head coach Dan Campbell was emotional when talking about it, saying how much Ragnow meant to the team.
“He’s going to be missed big time,” Campbell said. “I’ve got all the respect in the world for Frank. Love that guy.”
Still, in typical Campbell style, he made it clear the team won’t dwell on it.
“The train keeps rolling,” he said. “It’s next man up. We’ll be ready for camp. We’ve got some good depth, rookies we like, free agents, young guys stepping up—like Kingsley Eguakun.”
There were rumors that Ragnow skipped offseason activities because of contract issues, but Campbell shut that down quickly, calling the speculation “disrespectful.”
Ragnow, a four-time Pro Bowler, called it quits at 29 after dealing with years of injuries—many of which he played through. Campbell said the team was aware he might retire and gave him space to make the decision.
Now, the Lions are looking at a very young interior O-line. They were already replacing guard Kevin Zeitler, who left in free agency. And with Ragnow gone, there’s a real chance Detroit could start three players in their first or second NFL season.
Veteran Graham Glasgow and rookie Tate Ratledge (out of Georgia) are the leading options at center for now. The team also signed veteran Trystan Colon, who started a handful of games for Arizona last season.
Campbell acknowledged that experience at center helps a lot but said the team will go with whoever earns it.
“Experience matters, sure—but sometimes it’s about who’s next to you, too. We’ll figure it out in camp. That’s why we’re excited. We’ve got options.”
Training camp in July is shaping up to be intense, especially on the offensive line. And with Jared Goff under center, Detroit can’t afford to have that group fall apart.
Farewell to a Warrior: Dan Campbell Reflects on Ragnow’s Impact
