It seems that Stephon Gilmore’s lifelong football dream came true when the Dallas Cowboys swung a trade for the talented cornerback’s services earlier this week.
The Dallas Cowboys had been relatively quiet so far this offseason outside of making the important decision of slapping a franchise tag on Pro Bowl running back Tony Pollard. When NFL free agency kicked off on Monday, the organization was not involved in pursuits for the top players available.
However, their offseason slumber changed in a major way on Tuesday when the team made a blockbuster move not in free agency, but on the trade market. Earlier this week, the Dallas Cowboys acquired five-time Pro Bowler Stephon Gilmore in a trade with the Indianapolis Colts.
Related: Dallas Cowboys trade for 5x Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore
The deal was a big splash for the organization that now gives them one of the very best cornerback combos in the entire league. And with the Cowboys being a major brand in the sport and a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2023, you would expect Gilmore to be enthusiastic about returning to a winning environment next season.
Dallas Cowboys record (2022): 12-5, second place in NFC East
However, it seems that the 32-year-old is ecstatic about being a Cowboy next season because it has been a lifelong dream.
- Stephon Gilmore stats (2022): 66 tackles, 2 interceptions, 11 passes defended
On Thursday, during his introductory press conference, Gilmore revealed that “I’ve been a Dallas fan my whole life. Once I heard the news I was so excited.” (via Jon Machota). Adding to his deep love of the Dallas Cowboys is the fact that Stephon Gilmore claimed that his father and uncle have also been fans of the team their entire lives.
His excitement is further boosted because he saw the current Cowboys roster up close last season as a member of the Colts and liked what he saw. It proved to him that the team has the ability to go all the way in 2023.
“The potential is there. We’ve just got to put the work in,” Gilmore said (via Michael Gehlken).