Detroit Lions left tackle Taylor Decker made people wonder about his future after some emotional moments this week. The 32-year-old player has been with the team for 10 years and just made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 2024. He signed a three-year deal worth $60 million that keeps him with the Lions until 2027.
According to Heavy.com, Eric Woodyard reported on X that Decker has not decided if he will retire. Decker said he did not want to draw attention to himself by talking about his plans while feeling emotional. Right now, he is focused on the team’s final regular season game against the Chicago Bears.
“As of right now, I’m just operating business as usual,” Decker told reporters before the Week 18 game at Soldier Field. Decker retiring at 32 might seem strange, especially with so much money left on his contract. But it would not be the first time a Lions offensive lineman left early. Former center Frank Ragnow retired in June after just seven years in the NFL. He was only 29 years old.
Ragnow’s early exit shows retirement can happen anytime
Ragnow made the Pro Bowl four times, including his last three seasons from 2022 to 2024. He tried to come back late in the season to help Detroit reach the playoffs.
However, doctors found a serious hamstring injury during his physical exam, and the team stopped his return. Similar to how Patrick Mahomes displayed his recovery progress, athletes often face difficult decisions about their health and careers.
The Lions released a statement in late November explaining that Ragnow failed his physical. The medical exam showed a Grade 3 hamstring strain that would keep him out for the rest of the regular season. The team called him a “team-first guy” and “true warrior” who will “forever be a Lion.”
The offensive line has struggled this season. Pro Football Focus ranks Detroit’s line as the 21st best out of 32 teams heading into Week 18. This is a big drop from the past two years when the Lions won back-to-back NFC North titles.
Decker missed the Week 17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Dan Skipper replaced him and gave up four pressures, including one sack. Backup center Kingsley Eguakun also struggled, allowing three pressures and one sack. He got the team’s lowest pass-blocking grade at 42.8. Athletes across all sports have been posting cryptic messages about their futures, leaving fans wondering what comes next.
The line has been hurt by Ragnow’s retirement and the loss of right guard Kevin Zeitler, who joined the Tennessee Titans. Injuries to Graham Glasgow and Christian Mahogany have also weakened the unit. If Decker retires after the January 4 game against Chicago, the Lions will need to rebuild their offensive line for quarterback Jared Goff and running back Jahmyr Gibbs in 2026.
Published: Jan 2, 2026 02:20 pm