‘He’s elite at what he does’
Pats react to Gilmore trade
FOXBORO — Stephon Gilmore’s teammates wanted to play with him again.
Young and old, seasoned and inexperienced, the Patriots universally expressed Wednesday how excited they had been expecting Gilmore to return around Week 7, when he is eligible to return off the Physically Unable to Perform list. Earlier this year, even a defensive coach underscored Gilmore’s impact in his room by calling him “coach Steph.” But on Wednesday afternoon, the Pats traded their 31-yearold corner to Carolina all the same.
“You kinda get numb to news of guys — whether it’s being released, traded — you just get numb to transactions. But I got the chance to hit up Gilly and talk to him briefly,” said Patriots defensive captain Devin McCourty. “So football, career-wise I hope it works out for him in Carolina. I want him to do the best.”
McCourty credited Gilmore with making him a better football player. Together, they won a Super Bowl in 2018 and backboned the NFL’s best secondary in 2019, when Gilmore was named the Defensive Player of the Year. That season predated linebacker Josh Uche, who knew Gilmore mostly from their interactions inside the team facility.
“Steph is a great player, even better person. A role model that I looked up to,” Uche said. “A great guy to have around. Definitely going to miss him, man, and wish him the best of luck.”
Tight end Jonnu Smith and linebacker Kyle Van Noy were the first of Gilmore’s former teammates to meet the media after news broke he would be leaving the team.
Smith never played a down with Gilmore, having signed with New England this offseason. Van Noy, however, went to two Super Bowls with him and won one.
During his morning press conference, the veteran linebacker called Gilmore one of his best friends and said he’d looked forward to reuniting after playing last year in Miami.
“Obviously I was looking forward to it, and (it) didn’t work out,” Van Noy said. “And knowing him, he’s arguably — to me he’s the best corner in the NFL, as well as Xavien (Howard) because that’s my guy — disappointed, but he’s going to bounce back. He’s elite at what he does, and I’m looking forward to supporting him wherever he goes and plays high-level football like always.”
Van Noy then declined to answer any more questions about Gilmore, even the relationship he referenced.
“Like I said, I’m going to keep all that private,” he said. “That’s my guy, though.”
During his time with the Titans, Smith had gone head-to-head against Gilmore three times. Like his teammates, Smith viewed Gilmore as a welcomed reinforcement heading deeper into a suddenly difficult season.
“Yeah, we know what he can do,” Smith said.
Instead, Smith will have to face him a fourth time when the Pats travel to Carolina on Nov. 7.