The Detroit Lions have experienced more success over the last few seasons than they have over the last few decades. Dan Campbell has completely turned around their franchise and other teams now take them seriously each and every week. While they had a down year in 2025, many analysts expected that after they lost their offensive and defensive coordinators in the same off-season.
However, one decision they recently made has set off their fan base.
Jan 18, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell looks on during the second quarter against the Washington Commanders at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Jan 18, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell looks on during the second quarter against the Washington Commanders at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-Imagn Images
Lions Force Player To Give Back Signing Bonus
Rod Wood, the Lions’ president, confirmed that Frank Ragnow had to repay a portion of his signing bonus. If a player retires with a season left on their contract, NFL teams have the option of doing this. According to Wood, that’s what the Lions do whenever a player under contract walks away:
“Our precedent goes all the way back to Barry Sanders,” Wood told theDetroit Free Press. “And ifBarry Sanders paid back money. . . . And I think the reality is, they’re not paying back their money, they’re returning our money. ‘Cause they were paid in advance for services that they hadn’t completed.”
Both Sanders and Calvin Johnson, arguably the two greatest players in Lions franchise history, were required by the team to pay back bonus money when they retired. In both cases, that caused friction between the franchise and the Hall of Famers, but Wood insists it’s good business and only fair for a player to pay back the money for services he didn’t render.
“If we signed, let’s use [Jahmyr] Gibbs. We sign Gibbs to a contract tomorrow and we give him a $20 million signing bonus and he retires on Friday, are we entitled to the $20 million back?” Wood said.
Fans immediately went after the Lions’ franchise:
This is an owner issue. The Fords have always been cheap
— Illyrian (@EnvestingEarly) March 31, 2026
L organization as always
— WalkerSzn (@PRESIDINTBIDEN) March 31, 2026
Same old lions, just two good (not great) seasons squeezed between their usual tomfoolery
— VNS Media (@VikingsNewsSkol) March 31, 2026
lol lions so pissed he retired early bc they know Goff is a 🎃
— just_a_housewife79 (@housewife_79) March 31, 2026
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