Patriots former Defensive Player of the Year, All-Pro retires from NFL
Former Patriots Super Bowl champion and Defensive Player of the Year, Stephon Gilmore, announced his retirement on Thursday.
Former New England Patriots All-Pro cornerback Stephon Gilmore announced his retirement from the NFL in a social media post on Thursday. The South Carolina native spent 13 seasons in the NFL, including four seasons with the Patriots . He won his first Super Bowl as a member of the 2018 Patriots team that nearly pitched a shutout against the Los Angeles Rams at Super Bowl LIII.
A year later, he was awarded the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019. Gilmore put together a Hall of Fame-worthy resume that should lead to him being immortalized in Canton one day. Until then, the star cornerback is finally closing the book on his football journey.
Gilmore posted on Instagram: "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.