Cornerback Stephon Gilmore shares an anecdote from his time with the New England Patriots in which star coach Bill Belichick almost made him cry.

Even superstars like Tom Brady learned during his successful era with the New England Patriots that former NFL coach Bill Belichick is a man who doesn’t mince words.

Now, former Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore revealed on “The Money Down” podcast that Belichick once almost made him cry with his harsh words.

According to his own statement, he was heavily criticized by Belichick during the post-game meeting for a failed play. “It was when I just got there. I was tight on the receiver. It was a bunch formation… and I got blocked away,” the 34-year-old recalled the play. What followed was a severe reprimand from Belichick for the cornerback at the next team meeting.

NFL: Belichick tore into ex-Patriot in meetings

“I almost cried the way he treated me,“ Gilmore described the scene with the star coach from his first year with the Patriots, ”I can tell you one thing: I was never blocked away again after that.”

Gilmore played for the New England Patriots from 2017 to 2021, winning Super Bowl LIII under Belichick in 2018. The veteran then played one season each for the Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys and most recently the Minnesota Vikings. Gilmore is currently a free agent and looking for a new team.

“I want to play this year, but it has to be the right situation,” the defensive back reiterated on the podcast.