​As the New England Patriots prepare for their first home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a legend from the past will also be returning to Foxborough this weekend. Super Bowl-winning quarterback with the Patriots Stephon Gilmore will return Friday afternoon to officially retire as a Patriot, according to a press release from the team on Thursday. Retirement as a patriot was something Giomore hinted at back in the spring. “Gilmore was one of the most decorated defensive backs of his generation,” the release reads. “He earned five Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro honors during his 13-year NFL career. “In four seasons with New England, he helped the Patriots win Super Bowl LIII, sealing the victory with a late fourth-quarter interception. In 2019, he became the first player in franchise history to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.”The University of South Carolina graduate was drafted by the Buffalo Bills. He spent the first five years of his career in western New York before joining division rival the Patriots in 2017, where he played four seasons.After his time in Foxborough, Gilmore bounced around the league playing for teams like the Panthers, Colts, Cowboys, and Vikings. None of those stints lasted longer than one season. He announced his retirement in April of this year but never said who he was retiring with. He did not play in 2025, as his last season on the field was the 2024 regular season.Gilmore’s standout year as a Patriot came in 2019, when he was key to the Patriots’ defensive success.“That season, he led the NFL with six interceptions, including two that he returned for touchdowns,” the press release states. “He also recorded a career-high 20 passes defensed in consecutive seasons for the Patriots. In 2019, his contributions helped the Patriots finish first in the NFL in total defense (275.9 yards per game) for the first time in franchise history and lead the league by allowing just 14.1 points per game.”A press conference for Gilmore is set for 2:10pm on Friday after Mike Vrabel’s end-of-the-week pregame press conference. Follow Tyler for more Patriots content.Check out the Patriots Roundtable Podcast and like and subscribePatriots Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We’d love to have you join us to talk all things Patriots. Click the “Join” button at the top of the page to join our community for free.