The NFL received some big news when Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow announced his retirement. The four-time Pro Bowler was a fixture in the middle of the Lions’ offensive line and helped lead the franchise to its golden age, reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2023 and posting the best record in the conference at 15-2 last season.
But Ragnow’s decision to retire at the age of 29 is what made the announcement so shocking. While Ragnow was working through a contract for the upcoming season, he opted to hang up the cleats due to a long list of injuries.
It led to former Lions offensive coordinator and current Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson giving his former center a tip of the cap on the way out and a lasting memory he has from his time in Detroit.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been around a tougher player.” Johnson said via CHGO Sports.
Ben Johnson on Frank Ragnow retiring:
— CHGO Bears (@CHGO_Bears) June 3, 2025
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been around a tougher player.”
Bears HC Ben Johnson Calls Frank Ragnow the Toughest Player He’s Coached
Johnson has plenty of experience to draw back on when reflecting about Ragnow’s career. Arriving as an offensive quality control coach on Matt Patricia’s staff in 2019, Johnson saw Ragnow play 80 of 96 career games, and many of those involved some sort of injury.
One of the sequences that may stand out for Johnson was in the 2023 divisional round matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After Jared Goff collided with Ragnow and caused him to sprain his knee and ankle, Johnson called a run on 4th and Goal from the one-yard line. Ragnow handled Pro Bowl nose tackle Vita Vea on the play, allowing Craig Reynolds to score and give Detroit a 17-10 lead in an eventual 31-23 victory.
Frank Ragnow is such an iron man.
— Al Karsten (@FootballGuy_Al) January 22, 2024
Even with Ragnow’s sprained knee and ankle, Ben Johnson, on 4th & 1 on the Goal Line, calls a run play right behind Ragnow, pitting Ragnow against Vita Vea, one of the most imposing NTs in the NFL. He still gets the job done in obvious pain. https://t.co/L34daLuJ4p pic.twitter.com/mNqwF9McSw
Ragnow’s other injuries included foot, toe, knee, ankle, back, and groin injuries, and he once played with a fractured throat. The injuries didn’t stop Ragnow from being effective, however, as he ranked in the top five in run blocking and overall grades among centers in each of the past three seasons, according to Pro Football Focus. That also includes back-to-back No. 1 finishes in run blocking each of the past two seasons and a No. 1 overall grade in 2023.
With a career like that, Johnson’s comments are not surprising and it leaves big shoes to fill as the Lions prepare for next season.