Ragnow Retires Campbell's Honest Reaction Will Shock Lions Fans

Dan Campbell on Frank Ragnow's Retirement: "The Train Rolls On"

The Detroit Lions are facing a significant change as their star center, Frank Ragnow, has decided to retire at the age of 29. While the news may have surprised some, Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell revealed that he was aware of Ragnow's contemplation and respected his ultimate decision.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Campbell expressed deep admiration for Ragnow, who battled through numerous injuries during his seven-year NFL career. "Unbelievable teammate, football player, man in the community—man, he’s done it all. And he will be sorely missed, man," Campbell said, his voice filled with emotion.

Despite the undeniable loss, Campbell emphasized the team's resilience and forward momentum. "He’ll be missed. But, man, this train rolls on, the train rolls on. And it’s the next man up. And so, we will be ready to go when camp hits. We’ll be ready to go."

Campbell elaborated on the timeline of Ragnow's decision, noting that the organization simply wanted a decision by the end of the offseason program. Ragnow consulted with Campbell personally before making his choice. "We knew he was contemplating it for a while. But there was never yes or no or whatever. And we did our best to give him his space and let him sort it out—which he did," Campbell explained.

The head coach underscored the importance of Ragnow making a decision that was right for him. "It was time. And, listen, whenever you know it’s your time, it is the right time because it’s not fair to him and it’s not fair to his teammates or anybody else. So, I respect the hell out of him for the decision. It’s not easy to do. But he knows himself, and I’ll always respect that."

While Ragnow enjoyed a healthy and productive season in 2023, starting 16 games and helping the Lions secure the NFC's No. 1 seed, Campbell acknowledged the immense effort Ragnow put into maintaining his physical condition. He shared that, despite Ragnow feeling healthy this season, there was a lot of work to get to that point.

Campbell noted that the grind took a toll on Ragnow. "It was the healthiest he’s been in a long time. And you’re like, man, he’s in his prime right now. But if you’re him, you’ve also got to remember the amount of time and work and detail spent on taking care of his body — the training, the rehab that goes into it before he even trains."

The Lions are now tasked with finding a replacement for their All-Pro center. Campbell mentioned several potential candidates, including:

• Graham Glasgow
• Kingsley Eguakun
• Miles Frazier
• Rookie Tate Ratledge

Campbell expressed confidence in the team's ability to develop a suitable replacement. "Look, it’s different knowing that Frank’s out of the fold now," Campbell stated. "I hate to use the word ‘unsettling,’ but there is acknowledgement like, OK, you know, that’s where we’re at and we need growth. We need development quickly. And look, that’s why Hank Fraley’s the coach in that room. He’s done a hell of a job developing talent and he’s going to get these guys right — whoever it is, between Frazier, Ratledge, all these guys."

Frank Ragnow's retirement marks the end of an era for the Detroit Lions. While his presence on the field will be deeply missed, his impact on the team and the community will undoubtedly endure. The Lions now face the challenge of filling a significant void, but with Dan Campbell at the helm, they remain determined to build upon last season's success. The "train rolls on," and the Lions are focused on the future.

Source: https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/dan-campbell-frank-ragnow-will-be-sorely-missed-but-the-train-rolls-on