CHARLOTTE — Former Panthers cornerback Stephon Gilmore announced his retirement on social media Thursday, bringing to a close a stellar career that included a brief stop with his hometown team.
The former NFL defensive player of the year was acquired in a trade in 2021 and went to the last of his five Pro Bowls that season.
He was also a two-time All-Pro and the NFL defensive player of the year in 2019.
His time with the Panthers might have been short, but it was memorable.
He had a game-clinching interception against the Falcons in his first game with the Panthers, and another in his first home game here against the Patriots.
The Rock Hill, S.C.-native talked about the value of being close to home (he kept a home in Charlotte when he played in New England). And being back in Bank of America Stadium was a big deal for a guy who grew up cheering for the Panthers, while starring at South Pointe High and the University of South Carolina.
That pick against the Falcons was an example of the anticipation that made him one of the best in the game, but also of the study habits that created that kind of anticipation.
Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts called it his "Welcome into the NFL" moment after Gilmore ran his route for him and got the game-clinching pick in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Asked about that at the time, Gilmore, in his usual soft-spoken way, made it sound simple.
"I just try to study guys and figure out what they don't like and try to expose it as much as I can," Gilmore said of the interception. "He's going to be a great player. That's what you try to do each and every week."
Asked if he had such a moment, Gilmore said, of course, he had. (During a 2021 interview, he casually mentioned matching up with Hall of Fame receiver Calvin Johnson during his rookie year, which reminds you that Gilmore's been doing this at a high level for a very long time.)
"For sure. I see the game way better now than when I first got in the league," he said of his preparation. "I look at it from a whole different perspective. I think the more you play, the more you see, and the more it allows you to make plays. Watching film, you picture yourself out there and think about what you're going to do to make plays for the team."
Times were different in 2021, but the players around him were star-struck when he walked in.
"When he first walked in, he's got that quiet voice, and he's like 'How you guys doing, I'm Stephon Gilmore,'" former cornerback Keith Taylor said, doing his best low-key Gilmore impersonation. "I looked at him like 'Dang.' I mean, my freshman year, in 2017, he got a pick in the Super Bowl. So it's crazy seeing him.
"But he fits in. It's not like a starstruck thing anymore. He's like one of the guys now."
Gilmore was originally a first-round pick of the Bills in 2012, chosen 10th overall, and one spot after the Panthers chose Hall of Famer Luke Kuechly.
View photos of Gilmore from his years with the Patriots (2017-21) and Bills (2012-16).
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2020 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, left, catches a pass for a touchdown as New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore defends at right during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2020 in Inglewood, Calif. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson (15), right, catches the ball despite the challenge of Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) during the NFL game between Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London, Sunday, Oct. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) defends during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, December 6, 2020, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore lines up for a play against the Arizona Cardinals in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots' Stephon Gilmore during an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals at Gillette Stadium, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Stew Milne)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore warms up before an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, left, talks with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes after an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Kansas City. The Chiefs won 26-10. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman is tackled by New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore, rear, during the second half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 5, 2020, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Jets Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore poses for a portrait backstage after winning the AP Defensive Player of the Year award during the 9th Annual NFL Honors awards show, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020 in Miami. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore covers Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Zay Jones during an NFL football game at Gillette Stadium, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore runs after intercepting a pass against the Miami Dolphins in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) stands on the field during the first half of an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
FILE - In this Sept. 22, 2019, file photo New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore tries to catch a pass against the New York Jets during an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. Gilmore was named The Associated Press 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore at the bench area during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
FILE - In this Sept. 9, 2018, file photo, New England Patriots defensive back Stephon Gilmore, center, celebrates his interception with Dont'a Hightower, left, and Eric Rowe, right, during the first half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans in Foxborough, Mass. 2018 has been a signature season for one of the quietest players in their locker room. Gilmore earned All-Pro honors for the first time in his career and taken the leadership reins of a secondary that lost Malcolm Butler in free agency this past offseason. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) runs for a touchdown, during the second half at an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2019, file photo, New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore is shown during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, in Foxborough, Mass. Despite showing some vulnerability in their loss to the Ravens, the Patriots' defense remains one of the NFL's best heading into the second half of 2019. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) and New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) get in a shoving match during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore celebrates his interception against the Dallas Cowboys in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) runs on the field with teammates before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Nov. 8, 2015, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
New England Patriots' Stephon Gilmore, top, breaks up a pass intended for Philadelphia Eagles' Alshon Jeffery during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 52 football game on Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Detroit Lions wide receiver Kenny Golladay (19) is stopped by New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) at the goal line during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, in Detroit. The play was reviewed and the Lions awarded a touchdown. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
FILE- In this Nov. 26, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) is congratulated by Malcolm Butler (21) after he intercepted a pass in the end zone against the Miami Dolphins during the first half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles are set to meet in Super Bowl 52 on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
New England Patriots' Stephon Gilmore (24) knocks a pass away from Carolina Panthers' DJ Moore (12) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Aug. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Jason E. Miczek)
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, left, congratulates cornerback Stephon Gilmore after the AFC championship NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots won 24-20. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) breaks up a pass intended for Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Dede Westbrook (12) during the second half of the AFC championship NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) heads to the field before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) greets Buffalo Bills cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) following an NFL football game on Monday, Nov. 7, 2016 at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
New England Patriots' Stephon Gilmore (24) intercepts the ball against Los Angeles Rams' Brandin Cooks (12) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
AFC strong safety Darian Stewart (26), of the Denver Broncos, congratulates cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24), of the Buffalo Bills, after Gilmore intercepted a pass in the end zone, during the first half of the NFL Pro Bowl football game Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O?Meara)
