When news broke on Wednesday that Frank Ragnow is officially coming out of retirement and is expected to suit up for the Detroit Lions as early as Week 15 against the Rams, the entire city let out a sigh of relief. But behind the scenes, one of the biggest influences on Ragnow’s return wasn’t a coach, a trainer, or a front office pitch.
It was his best friend.
And that best friend just happens to be veteran left tackle Taylor Decker.
Frank Ragnow comeback Taylor Decker
A Month of Conversations, Check-Ins, and Honest Talks
According to Decker, this wasn’t a last-minute decision from Ragnow, and it definitely wasn’t a surprise to him.
“I’ve talked to him a lot over the last five or six weeks,” Decker said. “I think he just wanted to bounce it off me because everybody knows me and him are really close. He’s one of my best friends. I love the guy to death.”
That friendship wasn’t passive, either. Ragnow leaned on him. Decker listened. And over time, a picture started to emerge.
“I knew it was probably going to happen for about a month,” Decker admitted. “I was like, ‘Pull the trigger, dude. Come on.’”
That’s not a teammate speaking. That’s a brother in the trenches urging another brother toward something he deeply misses, and something the team desperately needs.
Decker Was a Soundboard, Not a Recruiter
Decker made one thing clear: he wasn’t trying to convince Ragnow. He wasn’t pitching the franchise or selling him on a comeback. He simply showed up as someone Ragnow trusted.
“He was kind of using me as a soundboard and getting feedback from me,” Decker said. “I don’t think I necessarily convinced him other than the fact that maybe he loves me and wants to come play with me a little bit more.”
That line tells you everything about their relationship and how genuine this comeback is. This wasn’t pressure. It wasn’t persuasion. It wasn’t a front office nudge through a teammate.
It was two linemen who have lived through battles together, and one of them needed to talk.
What Decker Knows — and What He Won’t Say
There’s one boundary Decker won’t cross, even for reporters who know he’s close to the situation: anything about Ragnow’s motivations, injury recovery, or timetable.
“I don’t want to speak out of turn on that, and I don’t want to speak for him,” Decker said. “I know he’s been working out, and if I know Frank, he’s going to be in good shape. But as far as plans, that’s not my place.”
He doubles down again when asked about whether Ragnow missed football or simply needed to get healthy:
“I don’t want to speak on that. I want to let him speak on that. That’s not my place. I know he has his reasons, and he’s talked to me at length about those. I’m going to respect his autonomy to talk about that himself.”
That’s respect. That’s loyalty. And it’s another reminder that this return is deeply personal.
The Reunion Detroit Needed
With the Lions pushing down the stretch in a tight NFC playoff race, the return of one of the NFL’s best centers could not come at a better time. And while the football impact is massive, this story is bigger than the lineup shuffle.
It’s about friendship.
It’s about how close-knit this locker room truly is.
It’s about a veteran leader feeling the pull to come back — not because of pressure, but because of people.
And Taylor Decker? He’s just happy to see his friend again.
“I love him to death and I’m happy to have him back,” he said.
If the Lions are going to make a run, this might be the emotional spark they needed.