For Buffalo Bills fans, it was already bad enough when Stephon Gilmore decided to leave Buffalo and join the AFC East rival New England Patriots. However, Gilmore believes what he said after leaving ticked off the fan base, which was already reeling from his exit.
The five-time Pro Bowl cornerback touted that his family would finally see him on television playing in New England, as opposed to staying in Buffalo. There were more primetime games for the Patriots, while the struggling Bills were typically blacked out of those marquee games at the time.
When appearing on The Money Down Podcast, Gilmore said he believed fans in Buffalo hated him after that post, even though he never meant it as disrespect.
“Especially what I said when I left. I mean, I didn’t really mean it like that. I feel like the fans in Buffalo hated me after that,” said Gilmore. “…I think I said, like, ‘My family finally get to see me on TV,’ or something like that. Because we weren’t winning then. I was like, man, we ain’t never on TV back home. We get one Thursday night game back in Buffalo. That’s it.”
Gilmore made good on his run in New England by appearing in two Super Bowls, winning one championship and becoming the lone player in franchise history to win NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
He was already a great player when he arrived, but his game elevated even further when playing under Patriots coach Bill Belichick. It just takes one look at Gilmore’s accomplishments, and it’s clear to see why going to New England was the right move.
Being over eight years removed from that decision, surely, Buffalo fans can see it as well.
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