Stephen Gilmore, a two-time All-Pro cornerback, declared his departure from professional football on Thursday.
Gilmore, 35, shared in an Instagram message, stating, “I have experienced a remarkable 13 years in the professional circuit, and I eagerly anticipate what the future holds in store.”
As a member of the New England Patriots, Gilmore was chosen as a first-team All-Pro in both 2018 and 2019. Additionally, in 2019, he was awarded the title of the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year, a season where he was at the forefront of the league with six interceptions and 20 pass breakups.
After being a first-round selection from South Carolina by the Buffalo Bills in 2012, Gilmore spent his initial five years in Buffalo prior to joining their AFC East divisional adversaries, the Patriots, in 2017.
He then remained for the subsequent four seasons with New England, securing a Super Bowl victory with the squad in 2018. During that championship year, he recorded two interceptions and five defensive deflections across the Patriots’ three-game playoff journey to the title.
His career trajectory included being dealt to the Carolina Panthers in 2021, inking a deal with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, a subsequent trade to the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, and suiting up for the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.
He sat out the previous season after remaining uncontracted during free agency.
Gilmore concludes his professional journey with a total of 32 interceptions, 149 pass breakups, and 617 total stops across 180 contests (including 173 starting appearances). He also earned nominations to five Pro Bowl All-Star games.