Updated March 2, 2026, 4:42 p.m. ET
The Detroit Lions are releasing center Graham Glasgow as they continue to get their affairs in order before the start of NFL free agency next week, according to an announcement from the team.
While Glasgow might still hold value as a veteran backup, his release is a cost-saving move for Detroit. The Lions will shed $5.6 million in salary cap commitments. The move is unsurprising after a year of struggles trying to replicate the success led by former All-Pro center Frank Ragnow. Glasgow, making his third position change in as many years, was named the starter early in training camp and held his own through certain stretches, but poor play from the interior offensive line at large made it a difficult transition season.
Off the field, he was a fan favorite for many years, be it for his deadpan humor, which produced hilarious moments in press conferences, or the costumes he wore on game days before Halloween.
It’s unclear whether the 33-year-old Glasgow intends to retire after 10 NFL seasons, including seven with the Lions.
“I’m grateful for the seven years I’ve spent as a Detroit Lion. I’m thankful for the great teammates, coaches and friends I had along the way,” Glasgow said on social media. “I love this city and the fans that have supported me for the better part of a decade. There truly was no place I would have rather been.
“Whether the times were good or bad, I’m proud of the time that I was able to spend here. Detroit and being a Lion has had a huge impact on making me into the man that I am today, and because of that, it will always hold a special place in my heart.
“I wish the Lions, especially my former teammates, nothing but the best. I will always be a fan of the guys who I took the field with, and I’ll always be a fan of the team that changed my life. Thank you!” Glasgow wrote, ending his message with a heart emoji.
Glasgow had two separate stints in Detroit, the first starting in 2016, when he was drafted by the Lions in the third round out of Michigan. After transitioning from guard to center, he moved back to guard for the 2019 season, when he was involved in a guard rotation during a contract year.
After three seasons in Denver, the regime of general manager Brad Holmes and coach Dan Campbell brought Glasgow back to Detroit in 2023, when he played right guard for a team that ended decades-long droughts for division titles and playoff wins, making a run all the way to the NFC Championship. Glasgow was forced to move to left guard after the Lions acquired veteran right guard Kevin Zeitler the following year, and was quickly shifted to center to fill the void left behind by Ragnow in 2025.
Now, the Lions will have to continue their mission of rebuilding the trenches. Detroit acquired a new interior lineman with center experience, Juice Scruggs, in the move that sent running back David Montgomery to the Houston Texans for fourth- and seventh-round picks. Scruggs is not expected to challenge for a starting job, but could provide value as a high-end backup if the Lions are able to push his development in the right direction.
Expect Detroit to make a bigger splash at some point this offseason.
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi