When asked earlier this month about the chances of seeing All-Pro center Frank Ragnow in Honolulu Blue again, Lions coach Dan Campbell seemed to put an end to any lingering speculation about his return.
“Here’s what I know about Frank,” Campbell told Detroit’s 97.1 Ticket in early November of Ragnow, who retired in June after seven NFL seasons. “If Frank really wanted to, he would be blowing my phone up, and I haven’t gotten a text yet. So I think Frank is feeling good about his decision. … That ship has sailed.”
If it did, it docked on the Detroit River. After a stunning change of heart, Ragnow is back.
The Lions could be, too.
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) November 26, 2025
Here’s what it means, as we enter a pivotal stretch of the season for the Lions.
How we got here
In June, Ragnow announced his retirement on Instagram. It’s something he’s hinted at over the years, given the wear and tear of playing the center position, but he indicated at the end of the 2024 season that this was the best he’s felt in January in a long time.
For a while, the expectation was that he’d be back. But the Lions knew that he had a decision to make. It’s possible it impacted their draft strategy, as they selected guards Tate Ratledge (who repped at center this summer) and Miles Frazier in April. In a perfect world, Ragnow potentially could’ve mentored a player like Ratledge for a year or two before retiring and allowing a transition to take place. But the Lions always knew the decision would be Ragnow’s to make. He formally announced his retirement this summer.
“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 announced in June. “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 family’s 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. It was an absolute honor going to battle for you all.”
Many of us who’ve covered Ragnow always operated under the assumption that once he was done with football, he wouldn’t return. He loves finishing, hunting and the outdoors. He’s posted photos of himself doing those same activities in retirement as recently as earlier this month. Clearly, since then, he’s had a change of heart.
Frank Ragnow is back.
Let’s talk about it: https://t.co/Pg5zFBpDSB pic.twitter.com/Og9oyvyXba
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) November 27, 2025
I’m told conversations intensified over the last month or so, as Ragnow was weighing a potential return. Wednesday was the deadline for Ragnow to make a decision. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, if a player is on a club’s reserve-retired list, he must be reinstated before that club’s Week 13 game. Detroit’s Week 13 contest is Thursday.
He chose to come back, and the Lions made it official Wednesday evening.
But what does it mean, and when might we see him?
What it means for Detroit’s offense
The return of Ragnow is a major boost for this offense, assuming he can pick up where he left off. The last time we saw him, Ragnow was coming off a second-team All-Pro season and his fourth Pro Bowl nod. He was one of the strongest, most athletic players at his position during his initial run — able to pick up stunts and protect Jared Goff in the passing game, while also paving the way for Detroit’s running backs in the interior. Perhaps his best attribute was his preparation. He spent countless hours scouting opposing defenses week in and week out, and his mind allowed him to assist Goff in calling out blitzes and keeping the rest of the line on the same page.
Without him, that’s been an issue this season. It showed up in the Lions’ Week 1 loss to the Packers. It was a game that featured two linemen running one play, and the other three running another. Goff is at his best when he has time to navigate from a clean pocket, but the quick interior pressure made that difficult this season. Many of Detroit’s offensive efficiency metrics (third-down conversion rate, offensive success rate, sack rate, explosive play rate and more) have taken a step back in 2025.
It’s easy to chalk that up to the departure of Ben Johnson, but even Johnson’s Detroit offenses missed Ragnow when he wasn’t available.
Here’s how the Lions ranked in key offensive metrics from 2022-24, per TruMedia — with and without Ragnow on the field.
• 2nd in EPA/play with Ragnow; 16th without him.
• 3rd in EPA/play when blitzed with Ragnow; 19th without him.
• 3rd in sack rate with Ragnow; 25th without him.
• 3rd in offensive success rate with Ragnow; 24th without him.
• 7th in offensive rushing success rate with Ragnow; 30th without him.
• 10th in pressure rate allowed with Ragnow; 29th without him.
His impact was undeniable, and it’s why his return should excite Lions fans.
With Ragnow sliding in at center, expect Ratledge to continue playing right guard, with Glasgow moving to left guard — where he played last season. It’ll be interesting to see what Campbell decides when left guard Christian Mahogany returns from injured reserve next month. That move could potentially slide Glasgow to a reserve role, or perhaps the Lions lean on experience as the playoffs loom. But first, the Lions need to determine when Ragnow will make his debut.
When might Ragnow return?
That’s the next logical question. Ragnow hasn’t played football since January. It’s unclear how much weight he’s lost since retiring. But you have to imagine he’ll be able to return sooner rather than later, if he’s making a decision like this, at this point in the season.
The Lions have six games left in the regular season. Three wins will likely secure their spot in the playoffs. Assuming he’ll need at least a week of practice to ramp up, the earliest we could see him could be Week 14 vs. the Cowboys on “Thursday Night Football.” However, that feels aggressive. Next week will be a short week, and the Lions will be limited in terms of practice time. That said, the team will have 10 days between games when they return from Week 15. They’ll travel to Los Angeles to face Matthew Stafford — a close friend of Ragnow’s — and the Rams. The Rams boast one of the better defenses in the league, led by a young and talented defensive line. He’ll be needed for that contest.
Bottom line
Ragnow’s return raises both the floor and ceiling of this offense. Assuming there’s no drop-off in his game, his presence is multifaceted. He could help mentor Detroit’s young guards, give Goff adequate time to take more deep shots and survey the field and climb into the second level to create more consistent rushing lanes for Detroit’s backs — most notably, David Montgomery.
Few saw this news coming, but it undoubtedly alters how we think about the Lions this season. That’s how good Ragnow is.
