Cowboys New CB Stephon Gilmore Still Taking Cues from Patriots Coach Bill Belichick

Dallas Cowboys newly-acquired cornerback Stephon Gilmore continues to embody the desire to both teach and learn the game he loves - something he learned from Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

New Dallas Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore has been among the top players at his position for several years. 

The former South Carolina standout spent his first five seasons with the Buffalo Bills, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2016. 

However, Gilmore truly developed into an elite defensive back after signing a lucrative free-agent deal with the New England Patriots in 2017 -- under the tutelage of Pats head coach Bill Belichick.

Though Gilmore may have left New England in 2021, he still carries a great deal of "Belichickian' wisdom and counsel in his heart. 

Accordingly, he will be carrying that knowledge with him to the Cowboys, who acquired the lockdown corner by trading a fifth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday.

“He's a great coach,” Gilmore said of Belichick in 2022. “He does everything…whatever he can to help his team win. He taught me a lot of football and how to be a better player ... how to prepare. As a coach, he helped me in a lot of ways."

During his four seasons with the Pats, he was named Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 after leading the league with six interceptions and 20 passes-defensed. He also extended his Pro Bowl selections to four, received two first-team All-Pro selections, and was a member of the team that won a Super Bowl title in Super Bowl LIII. 

Still, Gilmore was drawn to Belichick's consistent desire to learn about the game and impart that expertise to others. Former teammates such as Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson have praised Gilmore's patience and prowess as a teacher. As such, the Cowboys are gaining an exceptionally smart player with the desire to be a mentor to their young and talented corps of cornerbacks -- including current alpha defensive back Trevon Diggs. 

In 2021, Diggs led all cornerbacks with 11 interceptions, en route to a first-team All-Pro selection. Though he took a statistical dip in 2022 (logging just three picks), the 23-year-old is still considered one of the top players at his position. With Gilmore likely to draw some attention from opposing offenses, it should allow Diggs greater freedom to pursue the football. 

Last season, Anthony Brown was to man the left side of the perimeter. Yet, he suffered a torn Achilles in Week 13 and was placed on season-ending injured reserve in December. Rookie DaRon Bland performed well in Brown's stead, earning five interceptions and seven passes-defensed. Gilmore's acquisition makes it more likely that Brown has played his last game in Dallas. 

Ultimately, in addition to being the team's lifelong fan, Dallas is undoubtedly hoping that Gilmore can also act as a tutor to both Kelvin Joseph and Nashon Wright, who are expected to make notable improvements in their respective third seasons with the team. Knowing that their two top options [Diggs and Gilmore] are strong enough to anchor a formidable secondary, both Joseph and Wright have the luxury of developing at their own pace, barring injury. 

In acquiring Gilmore, the Cowboys have not only added a more-than-capable veteran, but also have lessened the haste to groom a youngster to play a major role in their secondary for the upcoming season.

Like his former mentor Belichick, Gilmore is ready to become the Cowboys new student of the game in what could be a special year for their defense. 

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Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL

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