Bills' 1st-round pick retires after 5 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl ring

One of the Buffalo Bills' most successful first-round picks in recent memory is retiring.

Stephon Gilmore announced in a post on his Instagram on Thursday that he's calling it quits on an NFL career that also included the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings and Carolina Panthers.

"To my first love, Football," Gilmore began his post. "As a young, scrappy kid from Rock Hill South Carolina with humble beginnings, the eldest of 6 - you gave me focus, opportunity, strength, and friends to last a lifetime. From my first game with Finley Road Falcons to two Super Bowls, multiple Pro Bowls, and a Defensive Player of the Year Award, you taught me the invaluable lesson of working hard and believing in myself."

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He then thanked many people involved in his journey.

"To my wife and kids, thank you for making it possible for me to chase my dreams," Gilmore wrote. "To my parents, thank you for raising me to be the man I am today. To my coaches, thank you for pouring into me. And to the fans—thank you for your support. I have had an incredible 13 years in the League, and I cannot wait to see what this next chapter holds."

The Bills picked Gilmore with the No. 10 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft out of South Carolina.

He went on to make five Pro Bowls, and he won a Super Bowl with the Patriots.

In his career, Gilmore had 32 interceptions, including a 2019 season when he led the league in INTs (6) and passes defensed (20).

He signed off his retirement post with one of his nicknames, Gilly Lock, writing "GillyLock Out (peace sign)."

Gilmore will turn 36 in September, and he didn't actually appear in an NFL game in the 2025 season.

Now, he's officially moving into the next chapter of his life.

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