Former Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore retires from NFL

“I have had 13 incredible years in this league and I cannot wait to see what this next chapter holds.”

Stephon Gilmore. Steven Senne/AP

Five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore announced his retirement from the NFL with a post on Instagram Thursday afternoon.

Gilmore, 35, played 13 seasons in the NFL. His four-year stint with the Patriots was the second-longest amount of time he spent with one team, trailing only Buffalo.

He played for six different franchises, winning his only Super Bowl ring with the Patriots.

The 2012 first-round pick penned a short letter expressing his love for the game as a caption for the Instagram post.

“To my first love – football,” he wrote. “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.”

“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.”

“To my wife and kids, thank you for making it possible for me to chase my dreams. To my parents, thank you for raising me to be the man I am today. To my coaches, thank you for pouring into me. And to the fans – thank you for your support. I have had 13 incredible years in this league and I cannot wait to see what this next chapter holds.”

Gilmore began his career with the Bills and stayed in Buffalo for five seasons. His first head coach with the Bills was Doug Marrone, who is now coaching offensive line with the Patriots.

Gilmore spent the next four with the Patriots before he was traded to the Panthers in 2021. He spent the final four seasons of his career each with a different team. He did not play in 2025.

Gilmore was a member of the Patriots Super Bowl LIII championship team in 2018. He won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award the following year, and was a first-team All-Pro selection both seasons.

He finished his career with 617 tackles, 149 pass deflections, and 32 interceptions. Two of the interceptions went for touchdowns.

The only two postseason interceptions of Gilmore’s career came during that 2018 playoff run with the Patriots, which culminated in a championship.

Khari A. Thompson

Sports Reporter

Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.

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