![\"Stephon](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-1741054841-e1775160398944.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore. <\/p>\n
In a long and winding career that included a stop with the Dallas Cowboys<\/a> in 2023, Stephon Gilmore<\/a> made a big impression everywhere he played.<\/p>\n Gilmore decided to end his NFL<\/a> career after 13 seasons on Thursday, announcing his retirement on his official Instagram account<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cTo my first love, football \u2014 As a young, scrappy kid from Rock Hill South Carolina with humble beginnings, the eldest of 6 \u2014 you gave me focus, opportunity, strength, and friends to last a lifetime,\u201d Gilmore wrote. \u201cFrom my first game with Finley Road Falcons<\/a> 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.\u00a0 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 \u2014 thank you for your support. I have had an incredible 13 years in the League, and I cannot wait to see what this next chapter holds.\u201d<\/p>\n Gilmore was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year with the New England Patriots<\/a> in 2019, 1 year after he helped lead the Patriots to a Super Bowl win.<\/p>\n He played for the Cowboys in 2023 and started all 17 regular-season games. Gilmore\u00a0ends his NFL career as a 2-time NFL All-Pro, 5-time Pro Bowler, and with approximately $122.6 million in career earnings.<\/p>\n Teams Ignored Gilmore\u2019s Pleas in 2025<\/p>\n Gilmore last played in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings<\/a>, and it appeared teams ignored his pleas to sign with another team and play in 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to play this year, it\u2019s just got to be the right situation,\u201d Gilmore said on The Money Down Podcas<\/a>t in July 2025. \u201cIt\u2019s got to be the right situation for me. I\u2019m not just gonna sign anywhere \u2026 I still love the game. I still can contribute. It\u2019s just got to be the right place.\u201d<\/p>\n Gilmore Ended Career as NFL Journeyman<\/p>\n Gilmore, 34 years old, had been one of the NFL\u2019s elite shutdown cornerbacks since he was drafted by the Buffalo Bills<\/a> with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft<\/a>.<\/p>\n Gilmore made his first Pro Bowl with the Bills in 2016 then signed a 5-year, $65 million free-agent contract with the\u00a0New England Patriots<\/a>\u00a0in 2017.<\/p>\n He earned his first NFL All-Pro nod in 2018 as he helped lead New England to a Super Bowl win over the\u00a0Los Angeles Rams.<\/a> In 2019, he became the first cornerback in a decade to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year after he led the NFL with 6 interceptions, including 2 returned for touchdowns.<\/p>\n Gilmore was traded to the\u00a0Carolina Panthers<\/a>\u00a0in 2021, signed a 2-year, $20 million contract with the\u00a0Indianapolis Colts<\/a> in 2022, and was traded to the Cowboys in 2023. The Vikings were his fifth team in 5 years.<\/p>\n With Minnesota in 2024, Gilmore made 15 starts and finished with 59 tackles, 9 pass deflections, and 1 interception.<\/p>\n \u201cI learned about this sport every time I talked to Stephon Gilmore,\u201d The Athletic\u2019s Nate Atkins wrote<\/a>. \u201cOne of the most accountable, insightful and real players I\u2019ve been around. And arguably a Hall-of-Famer to boot.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tTony Adame<\/a> covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos. A veteran sports writer and editor since 2004, his work has been featured at Stadium Talk, Yardbarker, NW Florida Daily News and Pensacola News Journal. More about Tony Adame<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Cowboys\n\t\t<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\tLoading more stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t