Bob Breidenbach/The Providence Journal via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Super Bowl Winning CB Announces Retirement From NFL

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Apr 2, 2026 4:28 PM ET

Stephon Gilmore played 13 years in the NFL and left the game as one of the best cornerbacks of his generation. On Monday, he made it official, announcing his retirement on social media and closing the book on a career that had just about everything in it.

Gilmore finishes with 32 interceptions, 149 passes defended and 617 tackles across 180 games. Five Pro Bowl selections. Two first-team All-Pro nods. And a 2019 Defensive Player of the Year award that cemented his place among the elite at his position.

That season was the peak, six interceptions two returned for touchdowns and a stranglehold on opposing receivers that made him the most feared corner in the league. He'll be eligible for the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2030.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2019) Stephon Gilmore.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

His retirement post did not read like a formal announcement. It read like an athlete genuinely grateful for where the game took him.

“To my first love, Football — As a young, scrappy kid from Rock Hill South Carolina with humble beginnings, the eldest of 6 - you gave me focus, opportunity, strength, and friends to last a lifetime.” Gilmore wrote. “From my first game with Finley Road Falcons to two Super Bowls, multiple Pro Bowls, and a Defensive Player of the Year Award, you taught me the invaluable lesson of working hard and believing in myself.”

He went on to credit his family for the foundation they gave him, his parents for the values they instilled and the coaches who shaped him along the way. The fans got a mention too.

"GillyLock Out." He added.

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Gilmore was drafted in the first round by the Buffalo Bills in 2012 and spent five seasons there before joining the New England Patriots in 2017. His four years in New England were the defining stretch of his career, including a Super Bowl title in 2018 when he added two postseason interceptions to his resume.

The 2019 season that followed was something else entirely, turning him into the most dominant defensive back in football.

Things slowed down after that. A trade to the Carolina Panthers in 2021, a stint with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, then the Dallas Cowboys in 2023 and finally the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. He went unsigned last season and never played again.

The path wound through six franchises but the reputation never wavered. Gilmore was a lockdown corner.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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