On June 2nd, All Pro C Frank Ragnow announced his retirement from pro football. Health concerns, including a foot injury that Ragnow called “inoperable” two years ago, likely played a major role in his departure from the NFL and from the Lions.
Detroit will now try to replicate his impact on offense by testing out a line featuring center depth courtesy veterans Graham Glasgow and Trystan Colon, and rookie Tate Ratledge. Head coach Dan Campbell seems to have a bit of a bias for Glasgow as he previously praised his ability to stay versatile on the O-line and play center well enough for the Denver Broncos in the past.
Of course, we won't know which way the team is leaning until training camp and preseason when we see who is getting reps at the position most often alongside other starters. One thing is for sure, though: the team will desperately miss Ragnow on the football field, as he'd become one of the league's best centers over the last few seasons despite so many injuries.
As has been the case with other high profile players in recent years, however, Detroit’s fans weren’t content to keep their well wishes to social media. Instead, they’ve turned out in droves to donate to his charity, Rags Remembered Foundation.
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Dave Birkett of Detroit Free Press reported that Katie Kozak, emailing on behalf of Rags Remembered, informed him of more than $11,000 in contributions from fans - mostly in $77.00 or $7.70 amounts, in honor of Ragnow’s uniform number.
Those donations, along with funds raised from a recent Skeet Shoot fundraiser, will help the foundation provide support and grief processing for families who have recently lost loved ones. From the foundation’s website:
"This understanding drives the mission of their foundation, which provides a supportive outlet for children and families to cope with their grief through outdoor activities. Grief is an inevitable part of life, and no one truly knows how they’ll respond to it until they face it themselves."
Rags Remembered also provides support for families of patients at Angela Hospice via annual Holiday Giveback events.