Former Colts cornerback Stephon Gilmore announced his retirement from the NFL in a series of posts on his social media accounts Thursday, calling it a career after 13 decorated seasons.
Gilmore spent the 2022 season in Indianapolis, serving as one of the few bright spots in a lost year for the Colts.
But his impact in Indianapolis has lingered. Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon and general manager Chris Ballard still reference lessons learned from the veteran cornerback, who made 66 tackles, 11 pass breakups and two interceptions in 2022.
“To my first love, football, as a young, scrappy kid from Rock Hill, South Carolina with humble beginnings, the eldest of six, you gave me focus, opportunity, strength and friends to last a lifetime,” Gilmore wrote in his announcement. “From my first game with Finley Road Falcons to two Super Bowls, multiple Pro Bowls and a Defensive Player of the Year award, you taught me the invaluable lesson of working hard and believing in myself.”
Already deep into his career, Gilmore asked for a trade to a contender at the end of a lost season in Indianapolis, and the Colts granted the request without any hard feelings, sending Gilmore to the Cowboys.
Gilmore spent 2023 with Dallas and 2024 with Minnesota, then sat out the 2025 season, although he was reportedly still open to playing in the right situation.
Gilmore established himself as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks with Buffalo and New England early in his career. A physical, intelligent cover man who was an expert in man-to-man, Gilmore was a five-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. While he was with the Patriots, Gilmore led the NFL in pass breakups twice and tied for the league lead in interceptions in 2019.
The legendary cornerback is not the only former Colt who decided to call it quits on Thursday.
Former starting middle linebacker Anthony Walker also retired, hanging up his cleats after nine years in the NFL. Drafted in the fifth round in 2017, Walker developed into a three-year starter in the middle for Indianapolis, then spent three years in Cleveland, one with Miami and returned to the Indianapolis practice squad for a while in 2025, only to leave for two games on the active roster with Tampa Bay in 2025.
Walker, a natural leader, told reporters in Indianapolis that he might be interested in being part of a front office after his playing career was over.
“Thank you football for 26 years of blood, sweat and tears,” Walker wrote on his social media accounts. “Next chapter will be even better.”
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Former Colts Stephon Gilmore, Anthony Walker retire from NFL
Reporting by Joel A. Erickson, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
