Lions Require Ragnow to Repay Signing Bonus Portion

Detroit Lions president Rod Wood confirmed that the team required retired center Frank Ragnow to repay a portion of his signing bonus upon his retirement last year, a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce and others in the NFL community.

Ragnow, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, announced his retirement in June 2023 after playing in 100 games over six seasons with the Lions, including 96 starts at center. He had signed a four-year, $54 million contract extension in May 2021 that included a $6 million signing bonus, making him the highest-paid center in the league at the time. The bonus was prorated against the salary cap over several seasons, with about two years remaining on the deal when Ragnow stepped away. Wood stated that the Lions sought repayment for the unearned portion, estimated at around $3 million based on the contract's structure.

The move aligns with a longstanding Lions policy dating back to the 1990s, when the team similarly asked Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders to return bonus money after his abrupt retirement in 1999. The organization applied the same approach to wide receiver Calvin Johnson upon his...