New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and he has already established himself as one of the top defensive talents in the league. That doesn't mean being compared to one of the best defensive backs of all time isn't special
On NFL Network's “Film Session,” Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner was asked to give a comparison for Gilmore. Warner didn't hold back on his praise for the Patriots CB, comparing the 2019 DPOY to one of the best and most polarizing athletes in sports history.
“He [Stephon Gilmore] reminds me of Deion Sanders the way he studies his craft and is a student of the game,” Warner said, per ESPN's Mike Reiss. “That's what Deion was so good at — the technique, the little things, and the ability to understand the game.”
Sanders played 14 seasons in the NFL, mainly with the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. During his career, Prime Time racked up eight Pro Bowl selections and six All-Pro selections, two Super Bowls and a 1994 Defensive Player of the Year award as both a cornerback and return man.
“Obviously, Deion was ridiculously talented. But he understood the game in such a way, especially playing man coverages, strengths and weaknesses, reading body language and doing all that stuff. That reminds me a lot of Stephon, the way he plays the game,” Warner furthered.
Last season for New England, Gilmore racked up 53 total tackles and a league-best 20 passes defended and six interceptions while also leading the Patriots to the second-best passing defense in the NFL.
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