Detroit Lions president Rod Wood confirmed the team sought a portion of Frank Ragnow's signing bonus repayment, mirroring the policy applied to Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson after their retirements. The move, disclosed after Ragnow retired with two years left on his $54 million contract extension (signed in 2021, including a $6 million bonus), drew immediate criticism from players like Alex Anzalone and Jason Kelce. Wood defended the precedent, stating the team acts for its own interests and handles each situation separately, referencing the franchise's long-standing policy dating back to Sanders' 1999 retirement.

Kelce argued the signing bonus protects players from career-ending injuries, criticizing the Lions' demand as a "bulls- - -" move against a player physically broken by the game. Ragnow's failed 2023 comeback attempt, due to a Grade 3 hamstring strain, underscored the team's medical assessment.