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“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 battled through multiple injuries during his career. In
2021, following a season in which he played with a fractured
throat, general manager Brad Holmes made him the league's
highest paid center at the time with a $54 million, four-year
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.”
Harrison Phillips, the eighth-year veteran defensive tackle with
division rival Minnesota, raved about Ragnow when asked on
Monday about the news of his retirement.
“He's one of the best centers I've ever had the privilege to
play against,” Phillips said. “I know that every time I had to
play against him, I had to buckle my chinstrap extra tight and
watch a lot of extra film.”
Phillips said his teammates on the Vikings' offensive line would
often ask him for tips about Ragnow's technique because his
fundamental blocking skills were so exceptional.
“The way that he played was acknowledged amongst all players on
both sides of the line of scrimmage,” Phillips said.
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