Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow announces retirement after 7 seasons

Pro Bowl Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow is calling it a career.

Ragnow wrote on Instagram that he is retiring after seven seasons with the Lions after dealing a slew of recurring injuries.

"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 wrote. "I've tried to convince myself that I'm feeling good but I'm not and it's time to prioritize my health and my families (sic) future."

Ragnow, a first-round pick out of Arkansas in 2018, played in 16 games and made his fourth Pro Bowl last season, when he said he finished the season as health as he'd been in years.

Ragnow has battled foot problems since 2021, when he tore the plantar plate in his left foot in Week 4 and missed the rest of the year. He called his toe injury inoperable in the spring of 2023.

That fall, Ragnow made the Pro Bowl after playing 16 games despite toe, knee and ankle injuries, and he acknowledged after the season he was contemplating his future.

Ragnow, who turned 29 last month and had two years left on his contract, was not taking part in formal offseason workouts with the Lions this spring

"I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don't," Ragnow wrote on Instagram. "I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. 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."

Tate Ratledge, a second-round pick out of Georgia, has been taking first-team reps at center in Ragnow's absence and is the leading candidate to replace Ragnow on the Lions' offensive line.

Ratledge was a three-year starter at right guard for Georgia.

Dave Birkett is the author of the book, "Detroit Lions: An Illustrated Timeline." Order your copy here. Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Bluesky, X and Instagram at @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions' Frank Ragnow retires after 7 seasons