The Detroit Lions are facing criticism from a former player regarding the organization’s handling of a recent retirement. Pro Bowl center Frank Ragnow surprisingly retired last summer, and the Lions reportedly required the longtime starter to repay a portion of his signing bonus.
Quandre Diggs Criticizes Lions for Treatment of Retiring Players
This is not the first time Detroit has enforced such a clawback, and the move has drawn a sharp response from another former starter. Defensive back Quandre Diggs, who played for the franchise from 2015 to 2019, voiced his displeasure with the team’s ongoing financial policy toward its retired stars.
Diggs was a reliable piece of the secondary for five seasons and played alongside Ragnow for two years. After recent reports surfaced, Diggs took to social media to call out the Lions for their behavior and to suggest modernizing the front office’s approach.
“Love the Lions but with seeing how other franchises have handled these situations it may be time to change how you’ve done things in the past,” the veteran explained.
Diggs was responding to comments from Lions President Rod Wood, who defended the team’s policy of asking retiring players to return prorated portions of their bonuses. Wood argued that the team is simply recouping funds for services not rendered rather than taking money away from the players.
Love the Lions but with seeing how other franchises have handled these situations it may be time to change how you’ve done things in the past. https://t.co/okJ9ejNNWG
— Nino (@qdiggs6) March 31, 2026
“Our precedent goes all the way back to Barry Sanders. And if Barry Sanders paid back money,” Wood said, via the Detroit Free Press. “And I think the reality is, they’re not paying back their money, they’re returning our money. Cause they were paid in advance for services that they hadn’t completed.”
The Lions famously gave Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson their money back when they retired before their contracts expired. While the team remains within its contractual rights, critics like Diggs argue that the practice can fracture long-term relationships with franchise icons.
Ragnow apparently considered a change of heart late in the 2025 season. Reports indicated the All-Pro center planned to rejoin the team in November, but head coach Dan Campbell later confirmed that the “ship has sailed” on a return, and Ragnow ultimately remained retired.
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Ragnow appeared in 96 games for the Lions and started every one of them. The lineman earned an elite 88.7 grade from PFSN’s OL Impact metric for his performance in 2024. Unfortunately, chronic injuries led the 29-year-old to choose retirement despite his high level of play.
Diggs has spent time with the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans since being traded from Detroit in 2019. The safety earned a 65.5 grade from PFSN’s SAF Impact metric during the 2025 season with the Titans.
