Overview
- Jason Kelce, in posts Tuesday on X, called the Lions’ demand that Frank Ragnow return bonus money “bulls---,” arguing the center retired because injuries ended his career.
- Team president Rod Wood confirmed at the NFL’s annual meeting that Detroit recovered an undisclosed portion of Ragnow’s remaining signing-bonus proration and cited long-standing franchise precedent.
- Ragnow retired in June 2025 to prioritize his health and family, then tried to come back late last season but failed a team physical that found a Grade 3 hamstring strain.
- Ragnow’s 2021 extension included a $6 million signing bonus prorated against the cap from 2023–26, and under the CBA teams can seek repayment when a player retires before finishing a deal unless a doctor declares him medically unfit.
- Former teammate Alex Anzalone listed Ragnow’s fractured throat, torn pectoral and chronic toe issues to criticize the decision, which echoes earlier repayment fights with Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson that strained ties with the team.