Detroit's Frank Ragnow Named Week 4 NFLPA Community MVP

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Frank Ragnow has been named the Week 4 NFLPA Community MVP after he hosted eight grieving families for an afternoon of fishing and games at his foundation’s second annual Fishin’ for Memories event. 

“Thank you to the NFLPA for recognizing me as the Week 4 Community MVP,” Ragnow said. “It's a great honor to be recognized for the work I have been doing with my nonprofit, The Rags Remembered Foundation.” 

On September 22, the Detroit Lions center and his wife Lucy hosted their latest Fishin’ for Memories event at Lake St. Clair Metropark in Michigan. Eight families (including 16 kids) who had recently lost loved ones were invited through Angela Hospice for a special day of bonding, including tossing around the football, eating pizza, and playing games like cornhole and Connect Four with Ragnow and fellow Lions Michael Badgley, Jack Fox, Romeo Okawara and Colby Sorsdal.

Afterwards, the families went for a boat tour of the lake and each child received private fishing lessons from Ragnow. At the end of the day, each kid also received their very own fishing pole, stocked bait and tackle box, a signed Lions football and a bag from his Rags Remembered Foundation.

“I started the foundation in honor of my dad to help kids dealing with grief understand how healing the outdoors can be,” said Ragnow, whose father Jon passed away suddenly in 2016. “It’s a privilege to provide access to the outdoors to the children we serve.”

Ragnow was introduced to the joys of hunting and fishing by his father. In the years following his dad’s death, Ragnow found the outdoors to be a healing balm for the grief that he was carrying and PTSD that he experienced upon leaving his home state of Minnesota after being selected in the 2018 NFL Draft.

In 2022, the two-time Pro Bowler launched Rags Remembered Foundation, a non-profit honoring his late father’s nickname while supporting children who have lost parents and other loved ones with outdoor activities that promote healing and bonding during the grieving process. 

Last December, Ragnow welcomed two young boys who tragically lost their older brother for his first “Huddle at Home,” a VIP gameday watch party complete with decorations, signed footballs and food. This past June, Ragnow hosted his foundation’s first Camp Huddle Up. The day of outdoor fun at YMCA Ohiyesa featured about 25 children and their families fishing, learning how to build a fire and participating in an arts and crafts activity to honor and remember their lost loved ones.

In honor of Ragnow being named this week’s Community MVP, the NFLPA is making a $10,000 contribution to his foundation or charity of choice. In turn, Ragnow will take part in a virtual or in-person visit to a school or children’s hospital. Along with the other 2023-24 Community MVPs, he will also become eligible for this year’s Alan Page Community Award, which is the highest honor that the NFLPA can bestow upon a player.   

Now in its 10th season, the Community MVP campaign is part of the NFLPA’s continued efforts to support the year-round, civic outreach and engagement of its player members. Please visit the NFLPA Community MVP website to learn more about the program.  

2023-24 NFLPA Community MVP winners:
Week 1: Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings 
Week 2: Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Week 3: Justin Hardee, New York Jets 
Week 4: Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions

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About the NFL Players Association:  
The National Football League Players Association is the union for professional football players in the National Football League. Established in 1956, the NFLPA has a long history of assuring proper recognition and representation of players’ interests. The NFLPA has shown that it will do whatever is necessary to assure that the rights of players are protected—including ceasing to be a union, if necessary, as it did in 1989. In 1993, the NFLPA again was officially recognized as the union representing the players and negotiated a landmark Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL. The current CBA will govern the sport through the 2030 NFL season. Learn more at www.nflpa.com.