Stephon Gilmore officially retired as a New England Patriot on Friday, bringing his career to a formal close with the franchise where he enjoyed his greatest team success.
Retiring in Foxborough
Gilmore will return to New England to sign a one-day contract and retire as a member of the Patriots, according to Players. The move formalizes what he announced earlier this year and allows him to end his playing days affiliated with the team he won a Super Bowl with.
Gilmore last played in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings and announced his retirement in April via an Instagram post before returning to New England to sign a one-day contract and retire as a member of the Patriots.
Career-defining moments and honors
During his retirement press conference, he was asked about his favorite play as a member of the team.
Gilmore is also a former NFL Defensive Player of the Year and, Yahoo! News added, served as a cornerstone defender for the Patriots during his tenure. With Friday’s ceremony complete, he can officially retire with the team and close out what the organization called a Hall of Fame-worthy career.
The ceremonial return to the Patriots provides a tidy bookend: Gilmore will be remembered in New England for the championship-clinching plays and the individual honors he collected along the way. Friday’s one-day deal and press conference gave him the platform to mark that legacy in Patriot blue, formally ending his time as an active player and cementing his connection to the franchise.
