Stephon Gilmore will officially retire as a member of the New England Patriots. The 35-year-old cornerback is scheduled to sign a one-day contract with the team on Friday.
Gilmore announced his retirement in April via Instagram. "I have had an incredible 13 years in the League, and I cannot wait to see what this next chapter holds," he said.
The Buffalo Bills selected Gilmore 10th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft. Over five seasons with Buffalo, he established himself as a premier secondary player before signing with New England as a free agent in 2017.
Gilmore's impact in the Patriots secondary was immediate. In 2018, he earned the first of two consecutive All-Pro selections. He delivered a game-clinching interception late in the fourth quarter of New England's 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII, his only Super Bowl championship.
The 2019 season marked the pinnacle of Gilmore's career. He became the first Patriots player named NFL Defensive Player of the Year and led the league with six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. He also recorded a career-high 20 pass breakups that season, matching his 2018 total.
Gilmore was selected to the Pro Bowl five times during his career. He finished with 32 interceptions and 149 pass breakups across 13 seasons.
After his run in New England, Gilmore was traded to the Carolina Panthers during the 2021 season. He subsequently played for the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, and the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.
The Patriots organization acknowledged Gilmore's contributions, calling him "one of the most decorated defensive backs of his generation."
