DETROIT -- Detroit center Frank Ragnow, a University of Arkansas great and a four-time Pro Bowl selection who was key to Coach Dan Campbell's Lions revival, announced his retirement from the NFL on Monday after seven seasons.
Ragnow, 29, posted to social media that he has tried to convince himself he's feeling well enough to play, "but I'm not," he said.
"I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don't," said Ragnow, who was drafted 20th by the Lions in 2018. "I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life."
Ragnow was a key recruit by current Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman during his time as offensive line coach under Bret Bielema from 2013-15. That Razorback offensive line, recruited by Pittman from across the country, earned nationwide publicity for being one of the largest units in the land. The five starting offensive linemen -- Ragnow, Denver Kirkland, Dan Skipper, Mitch Smothers and Sebastian Tretola -- landed on the Razorbacks' media guide cover in 2015. Ragnow and Skipper have been teammates on the Lions for most of the past six years.
A native of Victoria, Minn., Ragnow earned a plethora of honors during his four-year career at Arkansas, starting with the 2014 SEC All-Freshman team.
He made the Sporting News' All-True Freshman team that season, then earned best college offensive lineman accolades from Pro Football Focus in 2016. Ragnow was also a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus that year and a second-team All-SEC choice by the Associated Press. In 2017, he was a Jason Witten Man of the Year semifinalist and a Wuerffel Trophy semifinalist. Ragnow famously played through a high ankle sprain in a game against Auburn in 2017 before undergoing a procedure that kept him out the rest of the season.
Ragnow battled multiple injuries throughout his career. In 2021, following a season in which he played with a fractured throat, General Manager Brad Holmes and Campbell made him the league's highest paid center at the time with a four-year, $54 million extension.
Ragnow earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2020, 2023 and 2024. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2020 under then-coach Matt Patricia, and then made three straight from 2022-24.
"These past couple of months have been very trying as I've come to the realization that my football journey is ending and I'm officially retiring from the NFL," Ragnow said. "The Lions organization has been absolutely incredible throughout this process and I can't emphasize this enough how grateful I am for this team and all the fans. It was an absolute honor going to battle for you all."
Ragnow played through toe, knee and ankle injuries in 2023 to earn his third Pro Bowl nod and admitted after that season he was contemplating his future. The Detroit News reported he played with a pectoral muscle injury last season while earning Pro Bowl honors again.
Information for this article was contributed by Tom Murphy of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.