One of the NFL's Best DBs Just Walked Away, and His Legacy Will Echo for Years
Stephon Gilmore is done. The two-time All-Pro cornerback announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday after 13 seasons, and with him goes one of the most dominant defensive resumes in recent memory. At 35, Gilmore is stepping away from the game on his own terms, and honestly, that's the way legends should go out.
The Stats Don't Lie: Hall of Fame Level Corners
Gilmore was the real deal. First-round pick out of South Carolina back in 2012, he spent five seasons building his game with the Buffalo Bills before landing with the New England Patriots in 2017. That's where the magic happened. Playing for the Patriots, he was named first-team All-Pro in both 2018 and 2019, and in 2019 he absolutely owned the league, leading the entire NFL with six interceptions and 20 passes defended. The Patriots even named him Defensive Player of the Year that same year. He won a Super Bowl with New England in 2018, too, picking off two passes and defending five more during the team's three-game playoff run to the championship.
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After his run in New England, Gilmore's journey got interesting. He was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021, then signed with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. The Dallas Cowboys got a shot at him in 2023, and he finished his playing days with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. He didn't play last season after going unsigned in free agency, which gave him time to think about what was next.
When the dust settles, Gilmore finishes with 32 interceptions, 149 passes defended, and 617 tackles across 180 games (173 starts). That's the kind of resume that sticks around forever. "I have had an incredible 13 years in the League, and I cannot wait to see what this next chapter holds," he wrote on Instagram. That's the sound of a guy who left everything on the field and knows it.
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