With the start of the NFL season just around the corner, one name familiar to Minnesota Vikings fans remains unsigned, yet remains hopeful to land in “the right situation” for the upcoming season. Last season, former Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore suited up for the purple and gold and performed admirably, though maybe not up to the standard he’s set for himself during his illustrious career.
In 2024 with the Vikings, Gilmore started 15 games, notching one interception and nine passes defensed, with 56 tackles on the season. Those numbers were good enough to contribute to the Vikings being the fifth-ranked scoring defense in 2024, but they also marked the low point in Gilmore’s career by PFF grade, with the former Defensive Player of the Year only getting a 60.4 grade.
Despite the low score and lack of a deal, Gilmore reportedly is still hopeful to land with a team in 2025, saying on The Money Down podcast:
I want to play this year, it’s just got to be the right situation…It’s got to be the right situation for me. I’m not just gonna sign anywhere. … I still love the game. I still can contribute. It’s just got to be the right place.
As for who that “right fit” could be, a reunion with the Vikings would make some amount of sense. Minnesota didn’t drastically improve its cornerback situation in the offseason — though it did bring in veterans Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah in free agency. Gilmore has familiarity with the system, and at least offensively, the Vikings seem poised to make another playoff run.
Perhaps more likely, however, is Gilmore remaining unsigned into the season and choosing a team he believes to be a Super Bowl contender as the “right situation” for him. Gilmore has yet to add a Super Bowl ring to his stellar resume, and the chance to sign with a competitor would make a lot of sense in that regard.
No matter where Gilmore winds up, the team that signs him will be getting a valuable veteran presence, if nothing else. One who still believes he has something left in the tank and is likely looking to prove something to the doubters — and maybe to himself — after what some may consider to be a down season.
