Stephon Gilmore Reunites With Former Patriots Coach
By Jovan Alford
The New England Patriots hoped veteran cornerback Stephon Gilmore would consider coming back to Foxborough to play for first-year head coach Jerod Mayo this season.
When Gilmore was at Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame ceremony in June, he didn’t dismiss the idea of returning to New England. However, Gilmore told reporters he didn’t have contact with the Patriots in free agency.
“Never know, I know I’ll weigh any options,” Gilmore said. “It’s a place that I played great ball. So, letting it play out how it’s going to be.”
However, that will not be the case as the former Pats star defender is taking his talent to the NFC North in 2024.
Former Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore Signs With Vikings
On Sunday, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that Gilmore is signing a one-year, $10 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings. The 33-year-old Gilmore will be linking back up with current Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who was in New England with the veteran defensive back for two seasons.
The #Vikings are making a major free agent acquisition at a time when they rarely happen: Former Pro Bowl CB Stephon Gilmore is signing in Minnesota on a 1-year, $10M deal, source says.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 18, 2024
The ex-#Cowboys and #Patriots CB is back with DC Brian Flores. pic.twitter.com/YgA8pXqtEl
Even though he’s on the other side of 30, Gilmore showed last season with the Dallas Cowboys that he can still play at a high level on the boundary. The five-time Pro Bowl cornerback stepped in for an injured Trevon Diggs and posted 68 combined tackles, 13 pass deflections, and two interceptions.
Gilmore also had a 55.8 completion percentage and allowed four receiving touchdowns. The veteran cornerback will hope Flores can help him continue to play at a high level in 2024 as the Vikings’ secondary has seen a ton of loss at the cornerback position lately.
Flores played a part in Gilmore’s 2018 campaign where he received his first All-Pro. During that season, the star cornerback produced 45 combined tackles, 20 pass deflections, and two interceptions.
Nonetheless, New England fans would’ve loved to see Gilmore playing opposite Christian Gonzalez in the secondary this season. However, they’ll have to root for the former Patriots defender from afar.
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