The Detroit Lions were one of the most dominant teams in the NFL last season and had their fans salivating for a Super Bowl appearance after a 15-2 regular season, but they unfortunately fell short in the playoffs for a second consecutive year.
A big part of the Lions’ success over the past few years has been the offensive line, which has been the anchor of a unit that averaged a league-high 33.2 points per game last season.
The anchor of that offense now has a big question mark right in the middle of it as Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow suddenly decided to retire at 29 years old.
“It’s a big loss. … That center position, you often see, when you get a center, he’s just your guy forever. They’re so hard to find of this caliber,” former NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz said on “The Herd.”
"It's a loss for them. You don't find centers growing on trees."@geoffschwartz and @jasonrmcintyre discuss the sudden retirement of Detroit Lions All-Pro Center Frank Ragnow. pic.twitter.com/H6ahXXK5Th
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) June 2, 2025
Schwartz believes the Lions had some inkling that Ragnow’s retirement could be coming, as they used a second-round and a fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on guards, while they also have Graham Glasgow, who is capable of shifting to center.
There are options in-house to stomach this loss, but it’s still a devastating blow to what was considered the best offensive line in the NFL over the past few years.
That being said, you can never knock a player for going out on his own terms, and Ragnow did that.
He can now enjoy retirement and be proud of his stellar career, knowing that the Lions are in good hands without him, even though it will be a difficult void to fill.
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