After playing college football for Cal State Fullerton, the Saints selected him in the second round (38th pick overall) of the 1985 NFL draft.
[3] Gilbert attended Manuel Dominguez High School in Compton, and after graduating from there, enrolled at California State University, Fullerton.
[12] In his first year with New Orleans, Gilbert played as a backup on both sides of the offensive line and appeared in all 16 games that season.
[3][15] He started five games at left tackle that year, which was the first season the Saints compiled a winning record and made the playoffs.
[3] He was one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by repeated hits to the head.