Patrick Mahomes reportedly contacted All-Pro cornerback about joining Chiefs in 2021

Due to unusual circumstances, cornerback Stephon Gilmore was set to be a free agent during the 2021 season.

Gilmore had surgery late in 2020 because of a quadriceps injury and was on the physically-unable-to-perform list to start the 2021 season. Gilmore was seeking a new contract with the Patriots, but a deal couldn’t be reached.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter in October 2021 reported Gilmore would be released by the Patriots. But the Carolina Panthers made a late trade offer and acquired Gilmore for a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft.

With speculation that Gilmore, a two-time All-Pro and the 2019 defensive player of the year, would be departing the Patriots, he was recruited by players on other teams, including the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes. That’s according to a story by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who wrote about players reaching out to their peers.

“Right before the trade, Aaron Rodgers hit me up. Pat Mahomes hit me up,” Gilmore said. “A lot of guys (were) because it was midseason and those guys are getting ready to go to the postseason. Some guys you don’t follow, like who’s hitting me up? And then you’re like, ‘wow, I should follow them.’ It was a fun moment.”

Gilmore, who appeared in eight games with the Panthers, became a free agent at the end of the 2021 season. He signed a two-year deal with the Colts a year ago.

Could Gilmore have helped the Chiefs in 2021 when they lost in the AFC Championship Game? Apparently Mahomes thought so.

“Mahomes gave me his number and we talked — the message was me coming here is a great situation for me,” Gilmore told Fowler. “It’s always good to have those relationships around the league where you can talk ball or other things.”