The Detroit Lions are preparing for their final game of the regular season, but the spotlight has unexpectedly shifted to the future of veteran left tackle Taylor Decker.
Decker, a cornerstone of the Lions’ offensive line for the past decade, recently acknowledged that retirement is something he has thought about, raising eyebrows just days before Detroit’s Week 18 matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Taylor Decker Addresses Retirement Speculation
Decker, 32, earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2024, the same year he signed a three-year, $60 million contract extension that runs through the 2027 season.
According to ESPN’s Eric Woodyard, Decker was careful not to make his future a distraction.
“#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,” Woodyard reported.
“As of right now, I’m just operating business as usual,” Decker added, noting his focus remains on the Bears.
While no decision has been made, the comments were enough to spark concern among Lions fans — especially given recent history along Detroit’s offensive line.
Frank Ragnow’s Early Retirement Still Looms Large
Decker’s situation is magnified by the recent retirement of former Lions center Frank Ragnow, who stepped away from the NFL in June at just 29 years old.
Ragnow played seven seasons in Detroit, earning four Pro Bowl selections, including three straight from 2022–2024. A late-season comeback attempt in 2025 was ultimately shut down after he failed a physical due to a Grade 3 hamstring strain.
The Lions later confirmed the decision in an official statement, ending hopes of his return.
Ragnow’s abrupt exit has already left a noticeable void — and another early retirement would only deepen the issue.
Lions Offensive Line Takes Step Back in 2025
After fielding one of the NFL’s most dominant offensive lines during their back-to-back NFC North title runs in 2023 and 2024, Detroit has taken a significant step backward in 2025.
As Week 18 approaches, Pro Football Focus ranks the Lions’ offensive line 21st out of 32 teams.
Decker’s absence in Week 17 against the Minnesota Vikings highlighted the depth issues:
Dan Skipper allowed four pressures, including a sack
Kingsley Eguakun, filling in at center, surrendered three pressures and earned a 42.8 PFF pass-blocking grade, the lowest on the team
Injuries and Departures Have Piled Up
Detroit’s offensive line struggles stem from multiple factors, including:
Frank Ragnow’s retirement
Kevin Zeitler’s departure to the Tennessee Titans
Injuries to key linemen such as Graham Glasgow and Christian Mahogany
The cumulative effect has been felt throughout the season, impacting both Jared Goff in the passing game and Jahmyr Gibbs in the run game.
What Decker’s Decision Could Mean for 2026
If Taylor Decker were to retire after the January 4 season finale, the Lions would be facing a massive rebuild up front heading into 2026.
Losing another veteran leader would place increased pressure on the front office to retool an offensive line that was once the foundation of Detroit’s success.
For now, Decker insists his focus is solely on Chicago — but his comments ensure this will be a storyline worth watching well beyond Week 18.
