Frank Ragnow

Last updated

Frank Ragnow
No. 77
Position Center
Personal information
Born (1996-05-17) May 17, 1996 (age 29)
Victoria, Minnesota, U.S.
Height6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight311 lb (141 kg)
Career information
High school Chanhassen (Chanhassen, Minnesota)
College Arkansas (2014–2017)
NFL draft 2018: 1st round, 20th overall pick
Career history
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics
Games played96
Games started96
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Frank Ragnow (born May 17, 1996) [1] is an American former professional football player who was a center for seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL), all with the Detroit Lions. He played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks, where he was a two-time All-American. Ragnow was selected by the Lions in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. He earned four Pro Bowl selections with Detroit and three second-team All-Pro selections. He announced his retirement from football in June 2025. [2]

Contents

Early life

Ragnow attended Chanhassen High School in Chanhassen, Minnesota. He was rated as the 24th-best offensive tackle in the nation and the No. 3 prospect from Minnesota as a senior. ESPN evaluated him as a four-star athlete. Ragnow ultimately committed to play for the University of Arkansas after receiving offers from schools such as Wisconsin, Vanderbilt, Minnesota, Ohio State, and Florida State. He was also on the track & field team throwing the shot put 57 ft 6+1⁄4 in (17.532 m) in the Class AA State Finals, finishing in second place. [3]

College career

Ragnow was recruited to Arkansas by then-head coach Bret Bielema and offensive line coach Sam Pittman. Ragnow participated in nine of Arkansas' twelve games as a freshman in 2014, playing at center. He helped Arkansas finish the season 7-6 and beat Texas in the 2014 Texas Bowl. He played a role in Arkansas' spot atop the SEC in sacks allowed, giving up 0 sacks individually. As a sophomore in 2015, Ragnow started all thirteen of the Razorbacks' games as a right guard, allowing no sacks in the season's last seven games. He helped Arkansas to an 8-5 record and a victory over Kansas State in the 2016 Liberty Bowl. As a junior in 2016, Ragnow started 12 games as the Hogs' center and the other as the right guard, playing more than 900 snaps. He was named 1st Team All-SEC and an All-American. Arkansas finished the season 7-6 after a loss to Virginia Tech in the 2016 Belk Bowl. Ragnow was the starting center as a senior in 2017, and was once again 1st Team All-SEC and an All-American. He finished his career at Arkansas never allowing a single sack, and is considered one of the best offensive linemen in school history.

Professional career

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Frank Ragnow NFL Combine Interview
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 5+1⁄8 in
(1.96 m)		312 lb
(142 kg)		33+1⁄8 in
(0.84 m)		9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		4.99 s1.74 s2.91 s4.51 s8.04 s33+1⁄2 in
(0.85 m)		9 ft 7 in
(2.92 m)		27 reps
All values from NFL Combine /Arkansas' Pro Day [4] [5]

The Detroit Lions selected Ragnow in the first round (20th overall) of the 2018 NFL draft. [6] Ragnow was the first center drafted in 2018 and was the second interior lineman drafted. [7] Ragnow became the highest drafted center from Arkansas, surpassing Steve Korte who was selected 38th overall during the 1983 NFL draft. [8] On May 12, 2018, the Lions signed Ragnow to a four-year, $11.78 million contract that includes $9.21 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $6.64 million. [9]

External videos
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Lions draft Frank Ragnow 20th overall
Nuvola apps kaboodle.svg Instant Draft Grade: Frank Ragnow

The Lions immediately moved Ragnow to offensive guard although he had been used chiefly as a center during his collegiate career. [10] The Lions had Graham Glasgow slated to be the starting center after the departure of Travis Swanson. [11] Head coach Matt Patricia named Ragnow the starting left guard to begin the regular season. He started alongside offensive tackles Taylor Decker, Rick Wagner, right guard T. J. Lang, and center Graham Glasgow. [12]

He made his professional regular season debut and first career start during the Lions' season-opening 48–17 loss to the New York Jets. [13] He finished the season starting all 16 games at left guard. On December 21, 2020, he was named to the 2021 Pro Bowl. [14]

On April 28, 2021, the Lions exercised the fifth-year option on Ragnow's contract. [15] He signed a four-year contract extension worth $54 million with the Lions on May 7. [16] [17]

On October 6, 2021, Ragnow was placed on injured reserve with a toe injury. [18] He started in four games on the year. [19]

In the 2022 season, Ragnow started in 16 games. [20] In the 2023 season, Ragnow started in 15 regular season games and all three of the Lions' postseason games. [21] In the 2024 season, Ragnow started in 16 regular season games and the Lions' one postseason game. [22]

On June 2, 2025, Ragnow posted a farewell post onto his instagram which announced his retirement after seven seasons in the NFL. [23]

References

  1. ↑ "#72 Frank Ragnow". arkansasrazorbacks.com. University of Arkansas. May 8, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Lions' Pro Bowl center Ragnow says he's retiring". ESPN.com. June 2, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2025.
  3. ↑ "MN State A and AA Finals – Mens Class AA Shot Put". Athletic.net. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  4. ↑ "NFL Draft Prospect Profile – Frank Ragnow". nfl.com. March 1, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Arkansas C Frank Ragnow : 2018 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
  6. ↑ "2018 NFL Draft Listing". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  7. ↑ Twentyman, Tim (April 26, 2018). "Detroit Lions draft center Frank Ragnow". DetroitLions.com. Archived from the original on April 27, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Pro-Football-Reference: Arkansas NFL Draft History". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Spotrac.com: Frank Ragnow contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  10. ↑ "2018 training camp preview: Interior offensive line". DetroitLions.com. July 12, 2018. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  11. ↑ Meinke, Kyle (August 14, 2018). "Lions move Frank Ragnow to center, but should get back Graham Glasgow soon". Mlive.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  12. ↑ Demara, Max (September 13, 2018). "Lions reveal second depth chart for 2018 season". 247Sports.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  13. ↑ "NFL Player stats: Frank Ragnow (2018)". NFL.com. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  14. ↑ Birkett, Dave (December 21, 2020). "Detroit Lions have three 2020 Pro Bowlers: T.J. Hockenson, Frank Ragnow, Jack Fox". The Detroit News . Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Lions exercise fifth-year option for OL Frank Ragnow". DetroitLions.com. April 28, 2021. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  16. ↑ Woodyard, Eric (May 6, 2021). "Detroit Lions making Frank Ragnow NFL's top-paid center, source says". ESPN.com. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Lions sign OL Frank Ragnow to contract extension through 2026 season". DetroitLions.com. May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
  18. ↑ Woodyard, Eric (October 6, 2021). "Detroit Lions place Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow on IR with toe injury". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Frank Ragnow 2021 Game Log". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Frank Ragnow 2022 Game Log". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  21. ↑ "Frank Ragnow 2023 Game Log". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  22. ↑ "Frank Ragnow 2024 Game Log". Pro Football Reference . Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  23. ↑ Bianchi, Nolan (June 2, 2025). "Lions center Frank Ragnow announces retirement from NFL". The Detroit News. Retrieved June 2, 2025.
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