The Detroit Lions have one game remaining before their regular season ends, though the stakes could be even higher than that for offensive lineman Taylor Decker.
Decker, the team’s starting left tackle for the last 10 years, earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time in 2024. That was the same year he inked a three-year extension worth $60 million, which keeps him under contract through 2027.
“#Lions T Taylor Decker says he hasn’t made a decision on retirement and didn’t want to bring any attention to himself by speaking on his timeline during an emotional state,” Eric Woodyard of ESPN reported Wednesday, December 31. “He’s currently focused on the Bears.
“As of right now, I’m just operating business as usual,” Decker told media members ahead of the team’s Week 18 matchup against Chicago at Soldier Field.
Frank Ragnow Most Recent Lions Offensive Lineman to Retire Early From NFL
GettyFormer Detroit Lions left tackle Frank Ragnow.
Decker is just 32 years old, which might sound young to retire, especially with so much money remaining on his deal.
However, former Lions center Frank Ragnow played just seven years — four of them Pro Bowl campaigns, including his last three seasons from 2022-24 — before he abruptly retired in June. He turned 29 in May.
Ragnow attempted a comeback late in the season for a Detroit team struggling to make the playoffs. However, his physical revealed a serious hamstring injury, leading the Lions to scrap Ragnow’s return before he ever actually made it.
The team released an official statement on that decision in late November.
Frank Ragnow reported to our facility yesterday and went through the normal process of meetings. Unfortunately, during the routine meeting with our medical team, Frank failed his physical.
The medical exam revealed a Grade 3 hamstring strain that will keep him from participating for the remainder of the regular season. For that reason, Frank will not be rejoining the Lions. Frank has always been a team-first guy and is a true warrior. He will forever be a Lion.
Lions’ Offensive Line Depleted by Departures, Injuries in 2025
GettyLeft tackle Taylor Decker of the Detroit Lions.
The Detroit Lions fielded a dominant offensive line in each of the past two seasons (2023, 2024), when they won back-to-back NFC North Division titles, made the NFC championship game in 2023 and earned the No. 1 seed in the conference heading into the playoffs last year.
This season, however, has been a different story. Pro Football Focus ranks the Lions’ O-line as the No. 21 unit out of 32 in the league as Week 18 approaches.
“Decker missed the Lions’ loss to the [Minnesota] Vikings in Week 17. The veteran left tackle was replaced by Dan Skipper, who gave up four pressures, including a sack against the Vikings,” PFF’s Zoltán Buday wrote Wednesday. “The Lions also had to rely on backup Kingsley Eguakun at center. He gave up three pressures, including a sack, and earned a team-low 42.8 PFF pass-blocking grade.”
Ragnow’s retirement has made an impact this season, as has the departure of former starting right guard Kevin Zeitler to the Tennessee Titans. Multiple injuries to starters along the line, such as Graham Glasgow and Christian Mahogany, have also hurt the unit in 2025.
Should Decker retire following the team’s season finale against the Bears on January 4, the Lions could be looking at a significant rebuild in front of quarterback Jared Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs in 2026.
Lions $60 Million Pro Bowler Abruptly Brings Up Retirement Before Bears Game