Stephon Gilmore
A shutdown cornerback whose masterful 2019 season earned him NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, a rare feat for his position.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American football player·Birthday: September 19·Millennials
Biography
Stephon Gilmore played the cornerback position with a quiet, surgical precision that made entire sections of the field a no-fly zone for opposing quarterbacks. After a standout career at the University of South Carolina, he was drafted in the top ten by the Buffalo Bills, where he developed into a Pro Bowl talent. But it was his move to the New England Patriots in 2017 that unlocked his definitive form. In New England's demanding system, Gilmore perfected a brand of physical, intelligent coverage. His apex came in 2019, a season for the ages where he led the NFL in interceptions, was named a First-Team All-Pro, and, most prestigiously, was voted the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year—an award almost exclusively reserved for pass rushers. That season cemented his legacy as one of the most dominant cover men of his era, a player who could erase an offense's top weapon with methodical consistency.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Stephon was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Stephon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Stephon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, becoming the first cornerback to win the award in over a decade.
- Won Super Bowl LIII with the New England Patriots following the 2018 season.
- Selected as a First-Team All-Pro twice (2018, 2019) and to five Pro Bowls.
- Led the NFL with 6 interceptions and 20 passes defended during his 2019 DPOY campaign.
Did You Know?
He played both quarterback and defensive back in high school in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
He intercepted a pass from Tom Brady in a playoff game while playing for the Buffalo Bills, before later becoming Brady's teammate.
He won a state championship in high school basketball in addition to his football success.
“I just try to be the best version of myself every day.”
