Stephon Gilmore - Patriot HoF'er? NFL HoF'er?

Pape · Apr 6, 2026

Stephon Gilmore's goal: Patriots Hall of Famer, Pro Football Hall of Famer

Longtime NFL cornerback Stephon Gilmore announced his retirement last week, and he's hoping he has a future home in two halls of fame.

www.nbcsports.com

I know there is a retirement thread, but wanted to add a poll ... He came straight out and said he wants some new togs, specifically a Red Jacket and a Gold Jacket...

Dude has a resume that backs it up afaiac... be a yes to both for me...

What say you?

Nikolai · Apr 6, 2026

He's in the Randy Moss space as far as tenure goes, but he has the distinction of winning a Super Bowl. He was well-liked here, so I'd be good with PHoF. When? Actually, by the time he's eligible, I think a fair amount of backlog SHOULD be cleared.

As for the football HoF? Who the hell knows? He spent time as a Patriot, so it'll be up in the air. He should be in.

Pape · Apr 6, 2026

Nikolai said:
He's in the Randy Moss space as far as tenure goes, but he has the distinction of winning a Super Bowl. He was well-liked here, so I'd be good with PHoF. When? Actually, by the time he's eligible, I think a fair amount of backlog SHOULD be cleared.

As for the football HoF? Who the hell knows? He spent time as a Patriot, so it'll be up in the air. He should be in.

was also the defensive player of the year here...

he hit his full stride with the Pats... turned a good defense into a championship defense imo...

Wozzy · Apr 6, 2026

Gilmore on Buffalo is a great example of how it’s a team sport and some positions more than others are dependent on other people doing their jobs well.

Oh yeah, and how fans voting for Pro Bowls and the math nerds at PFF don’t really know anything.

Pape · Apr 6, 2026

Wozzy said:
Gilmore on Buffalo is a great example of how it’s a team sport and some positions more than others are dependent on other people doing their jobs well.

Oh yeah, and how fans voting for Pro Bowls and the math nerds at PFF don’t really know anything.

pff is basically dead at this point, so, eh...

I was surprised Buffalo let him walk ... that was a mistake on their part

Wozzy · Apr 6, 2026

Pape said:
pff is basically dead at this point, so, eh...

I was surprised Buffalo let him walk ... that was a mistake on their part

I think fans can learn something from the BB paying Gilmore instead of Butler, or later letting UDFA JC Jackson leave for 90 million dollars instead of paying him.

You can find players late in the draft, or even in the UDFA ranks, but you don’t pay a premium for anything less than thoroughbred’s. You never want to confuse team success or failure for individual player value.

Joey007 · Apr 6, 2026

He is a very interesting case for the Pro Hall.

Very high level peak of his career. But most of his time in Buffalo he was often just “good, not great” player. I feel like the lack of a sustained peak could be what keeps him out.

jmt57 · Apr 6, 2026

Tough decision here.

As far as Canton goes, I believe Patrick Peterson (more deserving) and Richard Sherman (more well known) will have to gain entrance before Gilmore is given any consideration. The raw stats (32 picks) don't jump out at somebody that didn't watch Gilmore closely, but FWIW that's three more picks than Darrelle Revis had in his career. He's deserving, but that doesn't mean he will get in - as we have seen with many other Patriots.

The red jacket is another tough call, because he only played in New England for four seasons. He was excellent during his time in Foxborough and 2019 was an amazing season - but there is such a backlog of really good players knocking on the door, the short tenure is going to work against him.

Stephon Gilmore 2018 Highlights (8:01)

Stephon Gilmore 2019 Highlights (7:15)

Pape · Apr 6, 2026

Joey007 said:
He is a very interesting case for the Pro Hall.

Very high level peak of his career. But most of his time in Buffalo he was often just “good, not great” player. I feel like the lack of a sustained peak could be what keeps him out.

out of both?

I think if Gillylock came back to New England he would get a rousing reception... not quite the level Randy Moss achieved (damn that was special) but i think he is well liked in NE///

Steve102 · Apr 6, 2026

Pape said:
out of both?

I think if Gillylock came back to New England he would get a rousing reception... not quite the level Randy Moss achieved (damn that was special) but i think he is well liked in NE///

I don't think he'd get the Mossian level of ovation, he wasn't as colorful. I do think he's well liked, but he didn't play a fantasy football points paying position, and that makes him a bit of an enigma for casual fans. He didn't have a pick 6 in the Super Bowl or a 3 INT vs Manning game in the playoffs like Ty Law did. He's the poster child of "do your job and do it well" mantra that the Belichick defenses were.

I think unless the Krafts change the rules of red jackets, he won't get in. Gronk, Belichick, Vinatieri and Mankins are ahead of him IMO. Dev McCourty gets in. Hightower gets in. Now you're 7 years out from today and 13 from when he last played in Foxboro. Gonna be a tough one IMO.

BennyBledsoe · Apr 6, 2026

Four seasons are not enough for a team Hall of Fame. That should be reserved for near-lifers, guys who played here long enough to be part of 'us'.

Pape · Apr 6, 2026

Steve102 said:
I think unless the Krafts change the rules of red jackets, he won't get in.

his potential enshrinement will, of course, depend on who he is paired with as a finalist... would he beat BB? or Adam? no and probably not... could he beat a Mankins type player? yeah, i think so...

sb1 · Apr 6, 2026

He is textbook Hall of Very Good. Doubtful he gets into Canton anytime soon.

Pats HOF - unlikely. Not enough time here IMO and there are plenty of Pats legends ahead of him right now.

Rob0729 · Apr 6, 2026

Patriots HOFer for sure. I don't know if he will get into the Pro Football HOF. He was elite and arguably the best CB in the league for several years (obviously he was when he won the DPOY), but I am not sure his tenure as an elite CB was long enough. He was very good, but not elite in Buffalo and that was the first five years of his career.

Rob0729 · Apr 6, 2026

sb1 said:
He is textbook Hall of Very Good. Doubtful he gets into Canton anytime soon.

Pats HOF - unlikely. Not enough time here IMO and there are plenty of Pats legends ahead of him right now.

He will make the Patriots HOF. He won the DPOY in 2019 and was a first ballot All Pro in 2018 and 2019. That is better than a lot of the guys already in. Plus he has two Super Bowl rings.

sean10mm · Apr 6, 2026

On paper he's a below average Pro Football HOF candidate. 2x 1st Team All-Pro, 1x DPOY.

Patriots HOF is easier, he was CRITICAL in a Super Bowl win and had his career peak years in NE. And that prime was really, REALLY good.

JoeSixPat · Apr 6, 2026

I doubt he visits Patsfans, but even if he doesn't make it into the PHOF most real fans here and elsewhere think he should

But he should know he deserves it in the eyes of the fans

Rob0729 · Apr 6, 2026

BennyBledsoe said:
Four seasons are not enough for a team Hall of Fame. That should be reserved for near-lifers, guys who played here long enough to be part of 'us'.

Bill Parcells was only head coach for four years.

Rodney Harrison only spent 6 of his 15 years in New England

Nick Buoniconti only spent 7 of his 14 years in New England

Leon Gray spent 6 of his 11 years in New England

Mike Haynes spent 7 of his 14 years in New England

Other than Parcells, Gilmore would have the shortest term in New England. But there are several players who spent only a portion of their careers in and are actually more recognized for their tenure on other teams like Buoniconti. I think Dolphins fans would dispute that that Nick was "our guy".

Steve102 · Apr 6, 2026

Rob0729 said:
Bill Parcells was only head coach for four years.

Kraft making up for past sins to curry favor with Canton voters.

Rob0729 said:
Rodney Harrison only spent 6 of his 15 years in New England

Likely the standard to measure who gets a red jacket. Rodney was a team leader both on an off the field. I am not sure Gilly measures up.

Rob0729 said:
Nick Buoniconti only spent 7 of his 14 years in New England

Leon Gray spent 6 of his 11 years in New England

Mike Haynes spent 7 of his 14 years in New England

All pre-date the Lombardi years, Gray was put in by the Senior Committee in 2019. I doubt Buoniconti makes the cut post-dynasty. He isn't needed now to legitimize the PHoF.

I believe there was a push to use Haynes and Buoniconti to legitimize the early induction members, because of their standing as having been enshrined in Canton. The cupboard was pretty bare at that point as far as comparing to the rest of the NFL.

Rob0729 said:
I think Dolphins fans would dispute that that Nick was "our guy".

Agreed. See above.

Rob0729 · Apr 6, 2026

Steve102 said:
Kraft making up for past sins to curry favor with Canton voters.

Likely the standard to measure who gets a red jacket. Rodney was a team leader both on an off the field. I am not sure Gilly measures up.

All pre-date the Lombardi years, Gray was put in by the Senior Committee in 2019. I doubt Buoniconti makes the cut post-dynasty. He isn't needed now to legitimize the PHoF.

I believe there was a push to use Haynes and Buoniconti to legitimize the early induction members, because of their standing as having been enshrined in Canton. The cupboard was pretty bare at that point as far as comparing to the rest of the NFL.

Agreed. See above.

You are making a lot of assumptions based on a limited sample size. We do not know if any of your assumptions are true because of the number of people in the Patriots HOF is only like 20-25 at this point.

Gilmore won't be a first ballot Patriots HOFer. But he will get in. In ten years, most of the big names of the Dynasty era will be in the Hall. We will get to the guys who were elite for this team for a short period of time soon enough. There are only so many Bradys, Laws, Bruschis, Browns, Edelmans, etc. I really can't think of anyone from the post Dynasty era so far that will get in other than maybe Maye and Gonzalez assuming their careers go like we hope. Anyone else were during the Dynasty era and just played beyond Brady being here like Slater or McCourty.

Gilmore made a huge impact to this team in the short time he was here. He played a key role in two Super Bowl winning seasons and one Super Bowl losing season. That is good enough to be a Patriots Hall of Famer. Not good enough to be a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

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Stephon Gilmore - Patriot HoF'er? NFL HoF'er?

Gilmore a Hall of Famer?

Yes - PHoF only

Yes - NFL HoF only

Yes - Both PHoF & HoF

No to PHoF & NFL Hof

No to NFL HoF

WTF, Are you trying to make this as difficult as possible?

Did I forget Something?

no i didn't

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