Frank Ragnow didn’t want to retire last spring after seven NFL seasons, but his body wouldn’t let him play another year and he wanted to devote more time to his family.
The four-time Pro Bowl center made his first public comments since walking away from the game at the age of 29 last June before his annual Skeet Shoot Showdown on Friday, June 12.
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“To shoot it to you straight, I was trying to will myself to play. I was,” Ragnow said. “And my body was telling me otherwise and I was just like in like paralysis, if you will. I did not plan on retiring in the middle of the summer, believe it or not. It was like I was trying to get like, ‘You can do it for the guys, for the fans, it’s who you are.’ But it’s just like I was uncomfortable and it’s one of those things where you have a couple kids, and I don’t want a sob story. I’m OK. I’m going to be completely fine and everything, But it’s one of those things like, I don’t know, is the juice worth the squeeze thing and to me ultimately it came down to that decision.”
Ragnow said he struggled with the decision to retire and felt guilt the way the Lions performed last season.
In Ragnow’s absence, the Lions moved guard Graham Glasgow to center and leaned on first-year starters Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany at guard.
Jared Goff was sacked a career-high 38 times last season and the Lions, struggling with consistency on offense, stripped offensive coordinator John Morton of play-calling duties at midseason.
Ragnow briefly attempted a comeback before Thanksgiving, but said he got injured – he tore his hamstring while training – a couple days before reporting to Detroit for his physical.
“I tried to avoid games and tried to distract myself from it and then I started watching games and I felt guilt,” Ragnow said. “Like Jared’s getting hit, that’s my guy. Those are my guys and they’re struggling. And then I made a horrible decision and tried to get ready to play and got hurt and it’s just like, that was tough. That was really tough. But you know it all, everything happens for a reason and I am where I am now and I’m in a great place and the team’s in a good place and I’m excited for next season so I guess it all worked out whether it’s the right way or whatever but we found a way and everything’s OK."
Asked if he’s officially closed the door on a return to the NFL, Ragnow laughed and said, “Yeah, I’d say so.”
Though he lives in Minnesota, he remains active in the metro Detroit community with events like Friday’s fourth annual showdown.
“You convince yourself into this romantic story like, ‘Hey, come back and help this team go on a run,’ and that’s the beautiful thing about football, it’s like you got to put the work in and I got hurt what was it a day or two before I got there and it’s unfortunate but I should have listened to my body probably but it is what it is,” Ragnow said. "Its a learning experience and at least I can say I lay my head on the pillow at night and say like I tried, I tried for the team, tried for the fans and it just wasn’t meant to be.”
Dave Birkett covers the Lions for the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Frank Ragnow talks about retirement from Detroit Lions for first time