Cowboys' Stephon Gilmore issues stern warning to team for playoffs

The Dallas Cowboys are looking to make their first deep playoff run in almost three decades, and cornerback Stephon Gilmore wants to make sure his team is ready for the moment.

“Don’t let it slip,” Gilmore said, via the Cowboys’ official team website. “We’ve just got to take advantage of this opportunity. It’s hard to get here. Be prepared. We’ve got to go in and earn the right to move on to the next round. … We know what type of team we have. We are preparing like that. Everybody’s getting ready. We’re at home. It’s going to be fun.”

Gilmore certainly knows what it’s like to win in the postseason, as he was a member of the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning club in February 2019.

He is in his first season with the Cowboys after signing with the club via free agency last offseason. He played in every game this year, registering 68 tackles, a couple of interceptions, a forced fumble and 13 passes defended.

Gilmore may not be the same Pro Bowl-caliber star he was several years ago, but he has been a steady contributor in Dallas’ secondary this season and has been a calming veteran influence in the locker room.

The 33-year-old, who played his collegiate football at the University of South Carolina, was originally selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 10th overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft.

He spent the first five years of his career with the Bills but didn’t begin earning recognition until his fifth season when he made his first Pro Bowl appearance.

Gilmore then joined the Patriots, where he spent four seasons. During that time, he made three trips to the Pro Bowl while also notching First-Team All-Pro honors twice.

He then linked up with the Carolina Panthers for one season and spent one year with the Indianapolis Colts before signing with the Cowboys.

Stephon Gilmore and Co. will host the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card Round this Sunday.