Stephon Stiles Gilmore Bio
Stephon Stiles Gilmore is an American former professional football cornerback who played 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Selected 10th overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 2012 NFL Draft out of the University of South Carolina, Gilmore built a reputation as one of the league’s most physical and instinctive cover corners. His career peaked with the New England Patriots, where he earned a Super Bowl LIII championship and the 2019 Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He finished his career with the Minnesota Vikings before announcing his retirement in 2026 after sitting out the 2025 season.
Early Life and Background
Stephon Stiles Gilmore was born on September 19, 1990, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, to parents Steve Gilmore and Linda Gilmore. He grew up in the Rock Hill area and attended South Pointe High School, where he was a standout two-way player at quarterback and defensive back. As a senior, he led the football team to a perfect 15–0 record and the SCHSL AAAA Division II state title. That season, he rushed for 1,331 yards and 23 touchdowns, while also passing for 1,771 yards and 14 scores, earning South Carolina Mr. Football honors and first-team all-state recognition from The State. He was also a sprinter on the track and field team, competing in the 100, 200, and 400 meters as a junior.
Considered a four-star recruit and the No. 2 overall prospect from South Carolina in the 2009 class, Gilmore chose the University of South Carolina over Alabama, Tennessee, and Clemson. He graduated high school in December 2008 to enroll early and participate in spring practice with the Gamecocks, an early step that helped launch his college career.
Path to American Football
Gilmore’s path to the NFL began in Columbia, South Carolina, where he quickly earned a starting cornerback role as a true freshman in 2009. He appeared in all 12 games that season, recording 52 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and nine passes defended, en route to Freshman All-American honors. As a sophomore in 2010, he was named third-team All-American and first-team All-SEC, cementing his status as a top draft prospect.
At the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine, Gilmore finished second among all defensive backs in the short shuttle, tied for fourth in the 40-yard dash and three-cone drill, and impressed scouts with positional drills at South Carolina’s pro day. He entered the draft ranked as the second-best cornerback prospect by DraftScout.com, ESPN analyst Mike Mayock, and NFL.com analyst Adam Rank, setting the stage for his first-round selection.
Stephon Stiles Gilmore Career
Early Career (2012–2013)
The Buffalo Bills selected Gilmore 10th overall in the 2012 NFL Draft, making him the highest-drafted Gamecocks cornerback since Dunta Robinson in 2004. He signed a four-year, $12.08 million rookie contract and immediately stepped into the No. 1 starting cornerback role. He started all 16 games as a rookie, finishing with 61 combined tackles, 16 pass deflections, and one interception while adjusting to NFL-level receivers.
His second season was interrupted by a fractured wrist in the preseason that forced him to miss the first five games. Gilmore returned in Week 6 and finished 2013 with 35 combined tackles, 10 pass deflections, and two interceptions in 11 games, establishing himself as a long-term building block in the Bills’ secondary.
Buffalo Bills Breakthrough (2014–2016)
From 2014 to 2016, Gilmore emerged as a true number one cornerback in Buffalo. In 2014, he played 14 games and recorded 46 combined tackles, six pass deflections, and three interceptions, helping the Bills finish 9–7. The following year, despite a shoulder injury that sent him to injured reserve, he tallied 36 solo tackles, 18 pass deflections, and three interceptions in 12 games. He capped his Bills tenure with a career-best five interceptions in 2016, earning his first Pro Bowl selection and the Ed Block Courage Award, while ranking as the most productive Bills interception leader since Jairus Byrd in 2012.
New England Patriots Era (2017–2020)
On March 9, 2017, Gilmore signed a five-year, $65 million contract with the New England Patriots, including $40 million in guarantees and an $18 million signing bonus. He started immediately and finished 2017 with 50 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, and two interceptions, while grading as a top-10 cornerback by Pro Football Focus. In 2018, he led the entire NFL with 20 passes defended, added two interceptions, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and his first career sack, earning first-team All-Pro honors.
The 2019 season became the defining year of his career. Gilmore led the league with six interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns, and posted 53 combined tackles and 20 passes defended. He won Super Bowl LIII with a late fourth-quarter interception of Jared Goff, and was later named the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first New England Patriots player to win the award in the franchise’s 50-year history. A 2020 quad injury limited him to 11 games, but he still earned an unexpected Pro Bowl nod.
Carolina Panthers Era (2021)
On October 6, 2021, the Patriots traded Gilmore to the Carolina Panthers for a sixth-round pick. He spent the early part of the season on the physically unable to perform list before making his debut in Week 8 against the Atlanta Falcons, where he sealed a 19–13 win with an interception of Matt Ryan. He finished 2021 with 16 combined tackles, two pass deflections, and two interceptions in eight games, earning a fifth Pro Bowl selection.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2022)
On April 18, 2022, Gilmore signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the Indianapolis Colts, with $14 million guaranteed and a $4 million signing bonus. He became the No. 1 starting cornerback alongside Kenny Moore II and played all 16 games, finishing with 66 combined tackles, 11 pass breakups, and two interceptions. He earned a 79.1 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking ninth among all qualifying cornerbacks in 2022.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2023)
On March 14, 2023, the Colts traded Gilmore to the Dallas Cowboys for a compensatory fifth-round pick, where he reunited with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. He started all 17 regular season games opposite Trevon Diggs, finishing with 68 combined tackles, 13 passes defended, two interceptions, and a forced fumble. He suffered a torn labrum in the season finale, but his steady veteran presence helped stabilize a secondary that lost Diggs to a torn ACL in Week 3.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2024)
On August 18, 2024, Gilmore signed a one-year, $7 million fully guaranteed contract with the Minnesota Vikings, reuniting with former Patriots linebackers coach Brian Flores. He opened the season as the No. 1 starting cornerback opposite Byron Murphy Jr. and finished with 56 combined tackles, nine pass deflections, and one interception in 15 games. He missed Weeks 14 and 15 with a hamstring injury, and the Vikings parted ways with him after the season concluded.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gilmore built his game on physical press-man coverage, sharp route recognition, and elite ball skills at the catch point. He was at his best when matched against bigger, physical receivers on the outside, using a long wingspan and disciplined footwork to disrupt timing. His 2019 film showed exceptional anticipation, and his Pro Football Focus grades consistently ranked among the league’s top cornerbacks throughout his prime.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gilmore’s signature moments include his late fourth-quarter interception of Jared Goff to seal Super Bowl LIII, his pick-six against Ryan Fitzpatrick in the 2019 season opener, and a dramatic Week 6 interception against the New York Giants that earned a 0.0 passer rating when targeted. He also became the first New England Patriots player to win the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.
Stephon Stiles Gilmore Career Wins
Gilmore’s career highlights include a Super Bowl LIII championship, five Pro Bowl selections, two first-team All-Pro nods, the 2019 Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year award, and the 2019 NFL interceptions title. He finished with 32 career interceptions, 149 career pass deflections, and two defensive touchdowns across 13 NFL seasons.
Team Highlights
With the Buffalo Bills, Gilmore earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 2016 and set a career-high five interceptions in his final season. With the New England Patriots, he won Super Bowl LIII and earned back-to-back first-team All-Pro honors in 2018 and 2019. He added three more Pro Bowl nods with the Patriots, Panthers, and Colts, capping his career as a member of the Minnesota Vikings in 2024.
Other Wins and Performances
Gilmore was selected to the New England Patriots All-2010s Team and the New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team, honoring his place among the franchise’s great defensive backs. At the University of South Carolina, he was a third-team All-American, a first-team All-SEC selection, and a Freshman All-American in 2009.
Stephon Stiles Gilmore Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stephon Stiles Gilmore is the son of Steve Gilmore and Linda Gilmore of Rock Hill, South Carolina. He has a younger brother named Steven Gilmore, who also played cornerback at Marshall University, giving the family a notable football lineage at the defensive back position.
Personal Life
On July 12, 2014, Gilmore married his college sweetheart, Gabrielle Glenn, a former collegiate sprinter for the University of South Carolina. The couple has three children together: sons Sebastian and Gael, and daughter Gisele. Gilmore grew up cheering for the Dallas Cowboys and was thrilled to eventually play for the franchise, sharing the news with his uncle on the day of the trade.
2025 Season Performance
Stephon Stiles Gilmore did not play during the 2025 NFL season after the Minnesota Vikings moved on from him following the 2024 campaign. With the Vikings reshaping their secondary under defensive coordinator Brian Flores, the team prioritized younger options, and Gilmore remained a free agent throughout the year. Although he did not officially retire at the time, his absence from the field through the entire 2025 calendar year signaled the end of his on-field career.
Looking back on the 2024 Vikings season that preceded his 2025 absence, Gilmore showed flashes of his veteran savvy despite a dip in overall production. He delivered several key moments, including a late interception off Aaron Rodgers to seal a Week 5 win over the New York Jets, and he provided leadership alongside Byron Murphy Jr. in a young secondary. His 63.9 Pro Football Focus grade reflected a down year by his high standards, but his presence remained a stabilizing force for Flores’ aggressive defensive scheme.
Heading into 2025, Gilmore’s legacy was already secure as one of the premier cornerbacks of his era, and the absence of a 2025 season only added to the mystery surrounding his future. His combination of a Super Bowl ring, a Defensive Player of the Year award, five Pro Bowl selections, and 32 career interceptions placed him in elite company among NFL cornerbacks of the 2010s and early 2020s.
