At just 29 years old, Frank Ragnow’s retirement announcement stunned many, but for those closest to the Detroit Lions, the surprise wasn’t that he retired -- it was that his battered body had somehow allowed him to perform at an elite level for so long.

The timing of the retirement of former Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow was important and could've helped the Lions in the 2025 NFL draft.

Frank Ragnow’s seven seasons with the Lions ran the gamut of highs and lows. A first-round pick turned four-time Pro Bowl er and three-time Second-Team All-Pro, he was also part of two NFC North championship teams.