Stephon Gilmore announces retirement after historic 13-year NFL career

The 5-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro cornerback reflects on his legacy and Hall of Fame aspirations.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 2:38pm

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Veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore has officially announced his retirement from the NFL, closing the book on a 13-year career that saw him emerge as one of the league's elite defensive backs. Gilmore, a former first-round pick by the Buffalo Bills, developed into a shutdown corner who could consistently take away the opposing team's top receiving threat.

Why it matters

Gilmore's retirement marks the end of an era for a player who was a steady presence in the secondary and a key part of the New England Patriots' defensive success during his time there. His consistent excellence and individual accolades, including Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2019, make him a likely future Hall of Famer.

The details

Over his 13-year career, Gilmore totaled 521 solo tackles, 96 assists, one sack, three fumble recoveries, and 32 interceptions while playing for six different teams. His peak came in 2019 with the Patriots, when he led the NFL with 20 passes defended and six interceptions, earning him Defensive Player of the Year, Pro Bowl, and All-Pro recognition.

  • Gilmore officially announced his retirement on Thursday, April 5, 2026.
  • His breakout season came in 2017 with the Buffalo Bills, when he earned his first Pro Bowl selection with 12 passes defensed and five interceptions.

The players

Stephon Gilmore

A 5-time Pro Bowler and 2-time All-Pro cornerback who spent 13 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots. He was named the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2019.

Sean McDermott

The current head coach of the Buffalo Bills, who took over the team in 2017 after Gilmore's departure.

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What they’re saying

“I left it all out on the field. Hopefully, the red jacket, the gold jacket, that's the goal. My style of play, how I played — mostly a man corner, covered the best guy each and every week, not too many guys can do that week in and week out.”

— Stephon Gilmore, Retired NFL Cornerback

What’s next

Gilmore will now focus on his Hall of Fame aspirations, as he hopes his consistent excellence and individual accolades over his 13-year career will earn him induction into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.

The takeaway

Stephon Gilmore's retirement marks the end of an era for one of the NFL's premier cornerbacks of the past decade. His consistent play, individual awards, and shutdown ability against top receivers make him a likely future Hall of Famer, cementing his legacy as one of the best defensive backs of his generation.