Two Veteran NFL Players Are Officially Retiring Young
A pair of established NFL vets are calling it a career, they revealed on Monday.
Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow is retiring after seven NFL seasons, he announced on social media. Cornerback Ronald Darby, who played 10 seasons with six different franchises, is also hanging up his cleats.
Ragnow, 29, made four Pro Bowls and was an anchor of the Lions' offensive line after being selected in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2024, but battled injuries throughout his career.
While he can still compete at a high level, Ragnow acknowledged the toll the NFL has taken on him physically in his retirement statement on Instagram.
"These past couple of months have been very trying as I've come to the realization that my football journey is ending and I'm officially retiring from the NFL," Ragnow wrote. "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. I have given this team everything I have and I thought I had more to give, but the reality is I simply don't.
"I have to listen to my body and this has been one of the hardest decisions of my life. The Lions organization has been absolutely incredible throughout this process and I can't emphasize this enough how grateful I am for this team and all the fans. It was an absolute honor going to battle for you all."
A second-round pick out of Florida State in 2015, Darby spent his first two seasons with the Buffalo Bills before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles before the 2017 campaign.
Darby helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LII and remained with the organization through the 2019 season. He went on to play for the Washington Football Team, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens and Jacksonville Jaguars.
For his career, Darby recorded 447 tackles, eight interceptions and 106 passes defensed in 118 regular season games.