Veteran center Frank Ragnow has given the Detroit Lions another headache as they prepare for the 2025 NFL season and the defense of back-to-back NFC North crowns.

The 29-year-old Pro Bowl regular has proven himself to be one of the NFL’s modern ‘iron men’ pushing through injuries for the good of his team. And there have been plenty of injuries, from the almost-expected concussions and muscle problems to the fractured throat he sustained while blocking against the Green Bay Packers back in 2020. The unusual injury is more often seen in cases of strangulation, and caused Ragnow to lose the ability to speak for the remainder of the game — which, of course, he insisted on finishing. Although the problem forced him to miss two subsequent games, it did not require surgery and the key member of the Lions’ O-line was back in uniform before the end of the season.

In total, Ragnow has missed 20 regular season games through his seven years in the NFL, but his farewell message revealed just how much of a mental toll trying to play through injury has taken.

“These past couple of months have been very trying as I’ve come to the realisation that my football journey is ending and I’m officially retiring from the NFL,” Ragnow admitted in a statement published on the social media site formerly known as Twitter. “I’ve tried to convince myself that I’m feeling good, but I’m not and it’s time to prioritise 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 organisation has been absolutely incredible throughout this process and I can’t emphasise enough how grateful I am for this team and all the fans. It was an absolute honour going to battle for you all.”

Ragnow’s latest feat of mind over matter came during the Lions’ abortive 2024 quest for the Super Bowl, when he played most of the season with a serious pectoral injury.

Blindsided by his announcement, the Lions do not have a front-line center on the roster, but are thought likely to move veteran Graham Glasgow over from guard and make use of the 2,000+ snaps he has taken with ball in hand during his career. Rookie guard Tate Ratledge has also been taking snaps during OTAs and could be Detroit’s long-term option.

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Ragnow’s announcement came on a day when several other veterans had their retirements confirmed.

Dolphins’ left tackle Terron Armstead, Saints QB Derek Carr, Eagles DE Brandon Graham and Patriots center David Andrews had all revealed their decision to call time on their careers in the past couple of months, but the start of June allowed for these to become concrete. Since then, Ravens LT Michael Pierce and Texans CB Ronald Darby — who won a Super Bowl with Philadelphia during a career in which he played for six teams, but not the Texans — have also been added to the league’s reserve/retired list.