Stephon Gilmore: Everything you need to know

Gilmore announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Gilmore will hang up his cleats after a rather impressive career, most notably being selected as a first-team All-Pro twice while also winning the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019. The cornerback compiled 617 total tackles (521 solo), 149 passes defensed, including 32 interceptions, while also adding eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries over 180 regular-season contests with the Bills, Patriots, Panthers, Colts, Cowboys and Vikings. Gilmore was also a Super Bowl champion with the Patriots in 2018.

Gilmore, who remains unsigned, hopes to play in 2025, Bobby Kownack of NFL.com reports. "I want to play this year, it's just got to be the right situation," the veteran cornerback recently noted on The Money Down podcast. The 34-year-old finished the 2024 regular season with 56 tackles and one interception in 15 games for the Vikings. For now, however, the five-time Pro Bowler appears inclined to wait until he finds the right fit for what would be his 14th NFL campaign, and it's plausible that once injuries hit during training camp later this month, Gilmore's options in that regard could increase.

Gilmore finished the 2024 season with 56 tackles (40 solo) and nine pass breakups, including one interception, across 15 regular-season contests. Playing for his fifth team in the last five seasons, Gilmore started all 15 games in which he appeared and continued to hold his own as a 34-year-old outside cornerback opposite Byron Murphy in Minnesota. Like Murphy, Gilmore is again scheduled to be a free agent in March and will likely have to settle for a one-year deal if he's going to continue his playing career.