Former 5-time Pro Bowl Eyes Cowboys Search for Super Bowl Glory

FRISCO, Texas — Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore, a five-time Pro Bowler and 2019 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is actively campaigning for a return to America’s Team, sources told ESPN on June 20, 2025. Currently a free agent after a 2024 stint with the Minnesota Vikings, Gilmore expressed his deep connection to Dallas and his desire to help the Cowboys overcome their postseason struggles, igniting excitement among fans eager for a bolstered secondary.

Gilmore, 34, played for the Cowboys in 2023 after a trade from the Indianapolis Colts, starting all 17 games and recording 68 tackles, two interceptions, and 13 pass breakups, per Pro-Football-Reference.com. His veteran leadership and elite coverage skills, evidenced by a 78.6 PFF coverage grade, made him a cornerstone of Dallas’ defense, which ranked fifth in passing yards allowed (187.4 per game) that season, per NFL.com. “Dallas felt like home,” Gilmore said on The Adam Schefter Podcast. “The fans, the culture, the Star—it’s special. I want to finish what we started and get that ring.”

After leaving Dallas in 2024 free agency, Gilmore signed a one-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings, where he notched 49 tackles and a pick-six in 12 games before a late-season knee injury, per Yahoo Sports. Now fully recovered, Gilmore believes he can address the Cowboys’ secondary woes, especially with injuries to Trevon Diggs and rookie Shavon Revel Jr., per The Athletic. Dallas’ pass defense struggled in 2024, ranking 17th (211.3 yards per game), and the loss of nickel corner Jourdan Lewis has left a void, per SI.com.

Gilmore’s ties to Dallas run deep. A South Carolina native, he connected with the Cowboys’ passionate fanbase and developed a close bond with defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, who coached him in 2023. “Zimmer knows how to use me,” Gilmore told NFL Network. “I can lock down top receivers and mentor young guys like DaRon Bland.” With $30 million in 2025 cap space, per Spotrac, GM Jerry Jones could offer Gilmore a one-year deal, potentially $8-10 million, to pair him with Bland and Kaiir Elam, acquired via trade, per dallascowboys.com.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer remained noncommittal but praised Gilmore’s impact. “Steph’s a proven winner,” he said, per Dallas Morning News. “We’re always looking to add playmakers.” Fans on Reddit’s r/cowboys are buzzing, with one user posting, “Gilmore back with Diggs and Bland? That’s a lockdown secondary!” However, concerns linger about his age and injury history, though his 2023 performance in Dallas suggests he remains elite.

As the Cowboys gear up for training camp, Gilmore’s potential return could be a game-changer. With Dak Prescott leading a revamped offense featuring CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, a fortified defense could propel Dallas past their Divisional Round ceiling. Will Gilmore don the Star again? Stay tuned to ESPN for updates on this compelling storyline.