Ex-Patriot Gilmore finds right landing spot in Indianapolis
WESTFIELD, Ind. — Stephon Gilmore arrived at training camp two weeks ago with an impressive resume — and something to prove.
After two injury-filled subpar seasons in New England and Carolina, the 31-year-old cornerback chose Indianapolis to revive his career.
So far, it looks like a winning match.
“I feel good, I feel strong, I finally feel like myself,” Gilmore said at the team’s camp complex, nestled between the cornfields in suburban Indianapolis.
“I like the vibe here, I like the guys, I like the coaches. Everybody here does everything to help the team win. That’s one thing I’ve noticed.”
Gilmore has learned plenty of lessons over a decade-long career, none more valuable than detecting the difference between teams built to contend and everyone else. It’s one reason he took nearly a month to sift through the free agent suitors before signing a two-year deal with the Colts.
On paper, Gilmore saw a promising defense on the verge of becoming an elite unit, an offense led by new quarterback Matt Ryan and defending league rushing champ Jonathan Taylor and an opportunity to shore up one of the Colts’ most glaring weaknesses, pass coverage.
On the field, Gilmore has been one of Indy’s most productive players. He’s dominated the one-on-one matchups with rookie receiver Alec Pierce and has blanketed virtually anyone who dares to challenge him.
His instincts also appear to be back and Gilmore’s penchant for routinely batting away passes has become contagious in this young rebuilding secondary.
New defensive coordinator Gus Bradley welcomes the impact Gilmore has made as does Ryan, the league’s 2016 MVP, who has been victimized more than once by a familiar foe.
“Unfortunately, that’s not the first time he’s picked me off,” Ryan said after Gilmore made an acrobatic interception during Sunday’s practice. “He’s got excellent pattern recognition, really good — savvy, good ball skills. He’s talented, and he’s one of those guys who sometimes can put a seed of doubt in your mind of what he’s going to do.”
That’s been Gilmore’s trademark for most of his career.
He earned a Super Bowl ring during Tom Brady’s final championship run in New England by batting away 20 passes and was selected as the league’s 2019 Defensive Player of the Year with 20 more passes defensed, tying for the league lead with six interceptions and returning two for scores.
But winning consistently has proven elusive for the former South Carolina star.
He endured four losing seasons and never made the playoffs during a strong five-year run in Buffalo. After appearing in back-to-back Super Bowls each of his first two seasons in New England, the Patriots suffered a rare wild-card round loss in 2019 before the bottom fell out.