Stephon Gilmore Is Walking Through That Door - Zone Coverage (2024)

Justin Jefferson doesn’t always invoke Michael Jordan’s name. However, he felt it was necessary after the Minnesota Vikings’ historic comeback over the Indianapolis Colts two* years ago.

“It’s just like Michael Jordan and the Detroit Pistons,” Jefferson said after the Vikings came back from 33-0 to beat Indianapolis, referencing Detroit’s “Bad Boys” era from the late ’80s and early ’90s.

“They tried to take out the best player. Try to put as much physical abuse as they can on him. I kind of feel that way. The defenses we’re facing, they try whatever it takes for me not to get those big plays. I feel like it’s happening more and more every game, but it is what it is when you’re this type of player.”

Jefferson became increasingly upset with the Colts’ secondary throughout the game. He finished with 12 catches for 123 yards, but Indianapolis double-teamed Jefferson and played him physically. Jefferson reached a breaking point when Stephon Gilmore hit him in the head on an out route, drawing an unnecessary roughness penalty.

“I didn’t feel it was a clean hit,” Jefferson said. “Him lifting up and going to tackle me high, I felt like it was a little dirty hit. That’s why I got really angry.”

However, the Vikings are light in the secondary and are meeting with Gilmore on Monday. Minnesota started the season with uncertainty in the cornerback room. Then, they lost meaningful depth when Khyree Jackson tragically passed away in July, and Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL early in training camp. Therefore, Jefferson may soon become teammates with the man he battled with during Minnesota’s Week 15 win two years ago.

“As far as guys we will potentially add, I know we are going to be constantly trying to figure out if there is a player out there that we can add to this team that has a chance to help us win,” Kevin O’Connell said after Minnesota’s first preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

“I have a ton of respect [for] Stephon Gilmore’s career playing against him. This is a guy that has done it at a really, really high level for a long time, so if that is something that ends up being a possibility, I know Kwesi and his staff will get us going in the right direction.”

In March 2000, Rick Pitino went on an epic rant that people still remember 24 years later. The legendary college basketball coach was coaching the Boston Celtics at the time and addressed a famously surly New England fanbase by saying, “Larry Bird is not walking through that door.”

His point was that Bird and Hibbing’s Kevin McHale were not going to enter the gym and turn the Celtics into champions again. Boston fans had to stop living in the past.

However, Vikings fans can get nostalgic if Minnesota’s front office and Gilmore can come to an agreement on Monday. Gilmore, 33, is no longer in his prime. However, the 12-year veteran could provide meaningful depth in the cornerback room. The five-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro started 16 games for Indianapolis last year and 17 for the Dallas Cowboys last season.

Indianapolis’ corners may have gone full Bad Boys on Jefferson years ago, but he and the Vikings got the last laugh. Their 33-point comeback was the largest since Frank Reich led the Buffalo Bills back from a 32-point deficit in the 1993 playoffs. Coincidentally, the Colts had just fired Reich as their head coach, and he texted Kirk Cousins to congratulate him after the game.

Jefferson spearheaded the effort with a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Gilmore lined up opposite Jefferson on third-and-two with 12:57 left in the game. Jefferson faked to the inside, causing Gilmore to bite. Gilmore jumped the inside route, only to watch Jefferson dart toward the left boundary, where Cousins found Jefferson wide open to make the game 33-21.

Players often become teammates with adversaries later in their careers. Dennis Rodman was coming off back-to-back championships with the Pistons when he shoved Scottie Pippen behind the basket in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals. However, he joined the Chicago Bulls before the 1995-96 season and won three-straight championships with MJ, Scottie, and Co.

Gilmore may not be the player he once was; he couldn’t contain Jefferson in their matchup two years ago. However, Gilmore won’t need to if he signs with the Vikings on Monday. He just needs to help ensure that Jefferson and Minnesota’s offense don’t repeatedly have to overcome a historic deficit in their challenging early-season games.

*An earlier version of this post misidentified when this game was played.