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NFL Fans Are Blasting The Detroit Lions For Making Franchise Legend Return His Signing Bonus After Retiring

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This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Dan Campbell.
Dan Campbell. Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Detroit Lions have had a tumultuous 2026 NFL season. The NFC North franchise has gone and will continue to go through changes ahead of the 2026 campaign.

In the meantime, they deal with complex situations, including the loss of key pieces. Besides the ugly situation involving cornerback Terrion Arnold, Taylor Decker spilled the ugly dirt on the team following a confusing departure.

Detroit added more controversy to the offseason by asking retired center Frank Ragnow to give back his signing bonus after his early retirement. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reported on Tuesday that Lions president Rod Wood defended the team’s decision to ask Ragnow to repay “a portion” of his signing bonus.

“Our precedent goes all the way back to Barry Sanders,” Wood said. “And if Barry Sanders paid back money…. 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.”

NFL Fans Blast The Detroit Lions After Controversial Frank Ragnow Decision

Detroit Lions center Frank Ragnow (77) warm up before the game between Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024.

Ragnow retired last summer after starting every single game he played for the Lions. He was named an All-Pro three times and a Pro Bowler four times. He played seven seasons with Detroit, becoming one of the most honored players in franchise history.

Upon learning the news, fans went after the team’s front office.

“Ah yes let’s do the thing that created a rift with our all time greats twice already,” one fan said.

“Bad look on the front office,” another fan said.

“The Lions quoted Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson to justify taking money from a man whose body failed him. “Returning our money” is cold corporate language. These franchises will honor your jersey but still send an invoice. Loyalty in the NFL has,” a third fan said.

“This is an owner issue. The Fords have always been cheap,” a fourth fan added.

Ragnow retired two seasons after signing his new contract. It is hard to imagine why a team would make such an odd decision, but Wood is defending it against anybody.

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