Lions get blowback after reports of team recovering portion of Frank Ragnow bonus
· Yahoo Sports
As was done with Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson following their sudden retirements in 1999 and 2016, respectively, the Detroit Lions reportedly have recouped a portion of the signing bonus attached to Frank Ragnow's contract.
Ragnow, a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time recipient of All-Pro honors, retired in June 2025. He briefly attempted a comeback last season, but a physical performed by Detroit's medical team revealed a Grade 3 hamstring strain, nullifying his potential return.
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Jason Kelce, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles and one of the best centers in NFL history, reacted on Tuesday to the Lions taking back some of the money paid to Ragnow, which was first reported by the Detroit Free Press. Signing bonuses are paid to players up front but the cap hit is prorated over the length of the contract. For example, if a player inks a five-year deal that includes a $10 million signing bonus, he receives the $10 million but that money is reflected as a $2 million hit against the cap in each of the five seasons.
"This is interesting," Kelce wrote on social media. "It feels like it’s obvious that Frank retired because he was physically fighting through injuries and pain, and it got to a point that he no longer could play the game in an enjoyable, effective, or healthy way. The whole purpose of a signing bonus is to be a guarantee up front that insures a salary irregardless of performance metrics, or most importantly injuries that could compromise your career in the future.
"What makes this interesting is that Frank likely retired 'voluntarily,' meaning, he wasn’t declared medically unfit to play by a doctor, which allows the team to ask for a prorated amount of his signing bonus back. Had he been medically deemed unfit to play football by a doctor before he retired, the team wouldn’t be able to recoup part of the signing bonus."
This is interesting. It feels like it’s obvious that Frank retired because he was physically fighting through injuries and pain, and it got to a point that he no longer could play the game in an enjoyable, effective, or healthy way.
— Jason Kelce (@JasonKelce) March 31, 2026
The whole purpose of a signing bonus is to… https://t.co/pvjgvLrsA0
Ragnow suffered a laundry list of injuries throughout his career, notably a fractured throat in 2020 and an inoperable toe ailment. He also partially tore his pectoral muscle early in the 2024 season and only missed one game because of it. Ragnow, who played in 96 of a possible 119 games during the regular season for his career, had a reputation for being one of the NFL's toughest players.
"Let me say this first, if a player truly just retires without reason, or because they’ve lost the desire to play, I completely get and acknowledge teams should be able to recoup compensation when players don’t fulfill there contractual obligations and agreements," Kelce continued.
"However, Frank was known for being hurt and playing through injuries most players wouldn’t play through constantly. Broken foot, a torn pec, multiple knee injuries, back issues. There was always something, and I’m sure he was continuously dealing with multiple ailments to try and continue playing the game. His body clearly had deteriorated to a degree that made football no longer a viable option, physically, and probably mentally. In my opinion, the signing bonus is supposed to protect players from future physical ailments limiting their availability on the field, that’s one of the reasons you want more guaranteed money upfront.
"So while I get that the team has a right to ask for money back, in the spirit of the agreement, I think it’s b------- Frank is being asked to return money. This was clearly a player that the game had physically taken its toll on, and his body was clearly no longer holding up to the rigors of the NFL. It wasn’t just some player deciding he didn’t want to play anymore, it wasn’t that simple, and these signing bonuses are there to protect players from the inevitable injuries they incur on the field."
Also coming to Ragnow's defense was former teammate Alex Anzalone, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason but played with Ragnow from 2021-24: "(He) played through (a) fractured throat, one week post meniscus clean up (with) stitches barely out, inoperable/unrepairable toe, etc. ... Do business as business is being done." In a follow-up post, Anzalone said: "Everyone knows Frank retired because of medical.. they got him on a contractural technicality." Anzalone also added he loves "Dan (Campbell) and the gang. This isn’t a coach issue."
The Lions turned to Graham Glasgow to be their center in 2025 after Ragnow's exit. Glasgow was released March 2 and later replaced by Cade Mays through free agency. A standout with the Carolina Panthers, Mays received a three-year deal worth $25 million.
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Lions’ reported decision on Frank Ragnow bonus draws criticism