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Detroit Lions announce Frank Ragnow failed physical, won't rejoin team after intending to end retirement

Stephen Samraby: Steve Samra11/29/25SamraSource

Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow shocked the NFL world by announcing he’d be coming out of retirement and returning to the team ahead of their Thanksgiving Day showdown with the Green Bay Packers.

The vibes were immaculate, but it won’t be coming to fruition. On Saturday, the Lions revealed Ragnow unfortunately failed his physical, and he won’t be saddling up with Detroit for their potential playoff run in 2025.

“Frank Ragnow reported to our facility yesterday and went through the normal process of meetings. Unfortunately, during the routine meeting with our medical team, Frank failed his physical,” the Lions announced via X, formerly Twitter.

“The medical exam revealed a Grade 3 hamstring strain that will keep him from participating for the remainder of the regular season. For that reason, Frank will not be rejoining the Lions. Frank has always been a team-first guy and is a true warrior. He will forever be a Lion.”

Alas, the hype was real, as Ragnow was with the Lions from 2018 to 2024. In June, the former Arkansas Razorbacks star originally announced his retirement because he wanted to “prioritize my health” and his family’s future.

“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 in a post on social media. “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.

“I have given this team everything I have, and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don’t. 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.”

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Ragnow intended to return to the NFL because he “loves the game.” Ragnow didn’t see the field during the Lions’ Thanksgiving Day showdown, but Schefter reported his first chance to play would’ve been next Thursday when the Lions take on the Dallas Cowboys.

The more likely scenario was that Ragnow would’ve seen the field for the first time this season on Dec. 14 when Detroit takes on the Los Angeles Rams. Of course, that’ll no longer be the case.

This past Wednesday was the deadline for Ragnow to come out of retirement for this season, and he’s on the Lions’ reserve/retired list. The Lions still hold Ragnow’s contractual rights for two seasons, and he wanted to take a stab at helping them stabilize their offensive line.

Over the course of his career, Ragnow became one of the top centers in the NFL after having a stellar career at Arkansas. The 29-year-old was selected to the Pro Bowl four times and named to the All-Pro Second Team three times, but he won’t be playing in 2025, despite yearning to return to the field.

— On3’s Brian Jones contributed to this article.