​FOXBOROUGH, Mass — Stephon Gilmore’s career has officially come to an end, as the star cornerback made the decision to retire as a member of the New England Patriots.“I had my best years here. I learned a lot here,” Gilmore told reporters on Friday. “I think I wouldn’t be the person I am today if I didn’t come to this franchise. That’s why I chose New England.”The cornerback was introduced by Patriots executive VP of player personnel Eliot Wolf, who said that, “at his best, there was nobody better.””When Stephon arrived in New England in 2017, he brought elite talent, competitiveness and professionalism to our defense,” Wolf added. “There was nobody better. He embraced the challenge of matching up against the opponent’s top receiver each and every week, and consistently performed at the highest level. Beyond all the individual honors, Stephon was a tremendous teammate who played an important role in one of the most successful periods in franchise history. His place in Patriots history is secure, and we are proud that he has chosen to close his remarkable playing career where he won a championship and established himself as the best cornerback in football.”Playing with the New England Patriots for four seasons, Gilmore helped the team win Super Bowl LIII with a late fourth-quarter interception. He also became the first player in franchise history to be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, finishing that season with six interceptions, as well as a career-high 20 passes defended. “Once I came to New England, I really grew into myself. Mentally, physically, I got so much better as a player,” he said. “I had had great coaches. I was around a lot of great veteran players that really helped elevate my game.”His entire NFL career spanned 13 seasons; he also spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, and Minnesota Vikings. His resume includes two first-team All-Pro honors and five Pro Bowl selections, having recorded 617 tackles, 32 interceptions, and eight sacks.He specifically recalled his best performance, which came during a 13-9 win over the Cowboys in 2019, where Gilmore was responsible for covering Amari Cooper and kept him from getting a catch the entire game. He finished that game with an interception on a throw from quarterback Dak Prescott intended for Cooper. He also said his favorite memory with the Patriots was winning Super Bowl LIII.“I always wanted to cover the best receiver, each and every week,” he said when reflecting on his career. “I always was the guy that wasn’t getting the double team because I wanted the ball to get thrown to my side. I took on that challenge. It allowed me to make more plays, and I think that’s one thing that separated me.”Gilmore announced his retirement in April, having last played in 2024. “It was hard for me to play and not be the player I want to be,” he said of his decision. “I’m content with what I did on the