Dan Campbell expressed his admiration for Frank Ragnow on Thursday, shortly after the Lions center announced his surprising retirement at just 29 years old.
“Frank was amazing. His teammates loved him, he was a great player, and he really contributed to the community,” the Detroit head coach said during a press conference, his voice slightly trembling with emotion.
“He’s going to be greatly missed.”
Ragnow, a four-time Pro Bowler for the Lions, shared his retirement news on Instagram on Monday.
“I’ve tried to convince myself that I felt fine, but I don’t, and it’s time to put my health and my family first,” he wrote in the post.
“I’ve given everything to this team and thought I could give more, but the truth is, I can’t. I need to listen to my body. This has been one of the hardest choices of my life.”
During his remarks on Thursday, Campbell recalled a key moment from Detroit’s 31-23 win against the Buccaneers in the 2024 NFC Division round. The Lions faced a critical fourth and goal at the 1-yard line with the score tied at 10.
Detroit decided to push through the center, resulting in an impressive touchdown run by Craig Reynolds, a play that would not have succeeded without Ragnow’s contribution. He managed to block one of Tampa Bay’s top defensive players despite a painful knee collision.
“That was a pivotal moment,” Campbell noted. “That’s the kind of player he was.”
At 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, Ragnow played seven seasons with the Lions, remaining loyal as the team transitioned from the bottom of the NFC North to Super Bowl contenders. However, he struggled with recurring toe injuries throughout his career, missing 13 games in 2021 and experiencing flare-ups in 2022.
Having been named to the Pro Bowl for the last three seasons before his retirement, Ragnow leaves a notable gap for Detroit to address on the offensive line as they aim for the championship this season.
