Stephon Gilmore, 35, is returning to New England on Friday to sign a one-day contract and retire as a member of the Patriots. He last played in 2024 with the Minnesota Vikings and previously announced his retirement in April via Instagram.

Selected 10th in the 2012 draft by the Buffalo Bills, Gilmore became one of the league's premier cornerbacks. He signed with New England in 2017 and earned two straight AP All-Pro selections, starting in 2018, when he clinched the Patriots' 13-3 Super Bowl win over the Los Angeles Rams with a late interception.

In 2019, he became the first Patriots player named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, leading the league with a career-high six interceptions, two returned for touchdowns. He also had a career-high 20 pass breakups in 2018 and matched that in 2019.

He was traded to the Carolina Panthers in 2021. His career includes stints with the Bills (2012-16), Patriots (2017-20), Panthers (2021), Indianapolis Colts (2022), Dallas Cowboys (2023), and Vikings (2024). The five-time Pro Bowl selection ends with 32 interceptions and 149 pass breakups.