Stephon Gilmore has retired from the NFL after a 13-year career that included two first-team All-Pro selections and the league’s Defensive Player of the Year award. The veteran cornerback confirmed the decision in a post on Instagram and said he is ready for “what this next chapter holds.”
Gilmore, 35, leaves the game as one of the most accomplished defensive backs of his era. He built that reputation through elite coverage skills, ball production, and a long run of success across multiple teams.
Elite peak with New England
Gilmore reached the highest point of his career with the New England Patriots, where he earned first-team All-Pro honors in both 2018 and 2019. He also won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 after leading the league with six interceptions and 20 passes defended.
His impact helped New England reach the Super Bowl title in the 2018 season. In that postseason run, Gilmore recorded two interceptions and five passes defended over three games, giving the Patriots a major edge in the secondary.
Career that started in Buffalo
Buffalo selected Gilmore in the first round of the 2012 draft out of South Carolina. He spent his first five seasons with the Bills before signing with the Patriots in 2017, a move that changed both his career arc and New England’s defense.
Gilmore then played four seasons in New England before his career moved into a final stretch across several teams. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021, signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, moved to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, and later played for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.
Career production and honors
Gilmore finishes with impressive numbers that reflect both consistency and longevity. He played in 180 games and made 173 starts, while collecting 32 interceptions, 149 passes defended, and 617 tackles.
- 5 Pro Bowl selections
- 2 first-team All-Pro selections
- 1 Defensive Player of the Year award
- 32 career interceptions
- 180 career games played
He did not appear last season after going unsigned in free agency, which signaled that his playing future was uncertain even before the retirement announcement. Still, his résumé remains strong enough to place him among the top cornerbacks of his generation.
What Gilmore leaves behind
Gilmore’s career stands out because he produced elite results in both his prime and his later years, while adapting to new teams and systems. His retirement closes the book on a career that began with first-round expectations and ended with a widely respected legacy built on coverage, takeaways, and high-level production.
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