Vikings Sign Former Defensive Player of the Year Amid Offer to Join Ex-Teammate

Defensive coordinator Brian Flores of the Minnesota Vikings.

The Minnesota Vikings signed five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore to a one-year, $10 million contract in free agency, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X on August 18. The deal includes $7 million in guaranteed money.

Gilmore turns 34 years old in September. But the five-time Pro Bowler, two-time All-Pro, and 2018 Super Bowl champion had other suitors.

Jadeveon Clowney recruited his former high school teammate, Gilmore, to the Carolina Panthers.

“The #Panthers also made an offer to Gilmore but Vikings came over the top strong here,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on X on August 18. “Gilmore reunites with [Vikings defensive coordinator] Brian Flores.”

Gilmore originally entered the league as the No. 10 overall pick in the 2012 draft. He spent the first five years of his career in Buffalo before signing with the New England Patriots in 2017.

The veteran spent two seasons there, where Flores was the Patriots linebackers coach.

They won the 2018 Super Bowl together with Flores calling plays and Gilmore earning All-Pro honors. Gilmore won Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, leading the league with 20 pass deflections and six interceptions. He was a Pro Bowler as recently as the 2021 season.

The Vikings are Gilmore’s fifth team in five seasons. He was with the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, and Carolina in 2021 after spending the 2020 season in New England.