With Frank Ragnow, one of the best centers of his time is leaving the NFL. He does not want to put any more strain on his battered body.

A bitter loss for the Detroit Lions. The NFL team led by German wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown will have to do without Frank Ragnow in the future.

The star center announced his retirement on Monday at the age of just 29.

Ragnow, who was drafted by the Lions in the first round in 2018 as the 20th overall pick, was repeatedly set back by serious injuries throughout his career.

Ragnow bids farewell with an emotional post

“The past few months have been very difficult as I came to the realization that my football journey has come to an end and I am officially retiring from the NFL,” Ragnow wrote on Instagram.

In his emotional farewell post, he made it clear how painful his active years in the NFL had been. “I’ve tried to tell myself that I’m fine, but that’s not true, and it’s time to prioritize my health and the future of my family,” he continued.

He admitted that ending his career was one of the hardest decisions he had ever made: “The Lions organization has been incredible throughout this process, and I can’t stress enough how grateful I am to this team and all the fans. It has been an absolute honor to go to battle for all of you.”

Ragnow quickly developed into one of the best players at the center position for the Lions. He was named a Pro Bowler four times and selected to the Second-Team All-Pro three times. He played a key role in helping the Lions field one of the best offensive lines in the league in recent years.

However, he paid dearly for his status, suffering virtually one injury after another in recent years.

Ragnow missed many games due to injury

A toe injury sidelined him for most of the 2021 season. Shortly thereafter, he suffered a groin injury, which also prevented him from playing much in 2023. In addition, he repeatedly struggled with various ailments. There was hardly a part of his body that was not affected by his numerous injuries.

Last season, Ragnow also suffered a partial tear of his pectoral muscle, but only missed one game. Nevertheless, he has now come to the conclusion that continuing his career no longer makes sense.