Stephon Gilmore

BIOGRAPHY

Stephon Gilmore was born on September 19, 1990, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He is a cornerback in the National Football League.

Gilmore went to South Point Hill High School where he played football, basketball and ran track. In football, he played both sides of the ball at quarterback and corner. As a quarterback, he threw for 1,771 yards and 14 touchdowns in addition to rushing for 1,331 and 23 rushing scores and led his team to a perfect 15-0 record and the South Carolina AAAA Division II title as a senior. He was named Mr. Football for the state of South Carolina, earned First Team All-State Honors, and was named High School All American. Gilmore was listed as the No. 2 overall prospect from South Carolina in the class of 2009 and received multiple football scholarships. He chose to remain in his home state and play for the University of South Carolina, passing on offers from Clemson, Alabama, and Tennessee. 

Gilmore played three years at South Carolina from 2009 to 2011 and started all 13 games at right cornerback as a freshman. He ranked 5th on the team in tackles, recorded three sacks, an interception, and two fumble recoveries. Gilmore was named Freshman All-SEC by the league's coaches and earned Freshman All-American honors. In total, Gilmore started all 40 games he played and posted 181 tackles with seven sacks, 15 stops for losses, and five quarterback pressures. In addition to causing four fumbles and recovering four. He also logged eight interceptions, returned one returned for a touchdown, and defended 17 passes. Gilmore was a two-time First Team All-ACC Selection. 

Stephon Gilmore was selected in the first round by the Buffalo Bills with the 10th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Gilmore started all 16 games of his rookie season recording 61 tackles, one interception and led the team with 16 defended passes. Gilmore played five seasons with the Bills from 2012 to 2016 before signing with the New England Patriots. He registered 198 tackles, 14 interceptions, 62 defended passes. On March 9, 2017, the New England Patriots signed Gilmore to a five-year, $65 million contract that includes $31 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $18 million. Gilmore has recorded a staggering 87 tackles, four interceptions, and defended 29 passes in only two years. Gilmore is a two-time Pro Bowl selection, named First-Team All-Pro in 2018. In addition to leading his defense and team to a Super Bowl victory over the Rams in Super Bowl LIII, the Patriots' defense held the Rams' high-powered offense to only three points in the win.

Gilmore was traded to the Carolina Panthers on October 6, 2021 in exchange for a sixth-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.

In April of 2022, Gilmore signed with the Indianapolis Colts and in 2023 Gilmore was traded to the Dallas Cowboys.