Minnesota-Born Pro Bowl NFL Star Shocks The World With Career Announcement

A four-time NFL Pro Bowler who calls Minnesota home just dropped some shocking news.

NFL offensive lineman Frank Ragnow has racked up numerous collegiate and NFL honors in his short career. At the age of 29, the Minnesota-born pro football star announced he is hanging up his cleats, sending some shockwaves through the league.

Ragnow, who was born southwest of the Twin Cities in the Minnesota town of Victoria, played his high school football at Chanhassen High School in Chanhassen, Minnesota. He became a top prospect heading into college, making the decision to attend Arkansas over teams like Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio State.

After collecting multiple first-team All-American and All-SEC awards, the Chanhassen product was drafted by the Detroit Lions with the 20th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

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In his short career in the NFL, he has made 4 Pro Bowl appearances and was named a second-team All-Pro on three different occasions while anchoring the Lions' offensive line. During his tenure with the team, they have been playoff contenders with Super Bowl aspirations in recent years.

Ragnow shared the news that he would be retiring via social media on Monday, saying he had " come to the realization that my football journey is ending", officially retiring from the NFL.

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He explained the reason for his retirement, saying "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 families future", calling it " one of the hardest decisions of my life."

The 29-year-old has fought through several injuries throughout his career, taking a toll on him over his seven years with the Lions.

Pro Football Talk reports Lions' 2025 second-round pick Tate Ratledge has been taking snaps at center for the team as a potential replacement in the wake of Ragnow's retirement news.

This comes at a time when the Lions hope to fend off the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers in a tight NFC North. The division saw a very close battle in 2024, and many believe this year has the potential to be another tight division.

With such a crucial piece of the Lions' offensive line retiring, it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the battle for the NFC North in 2025.