Former Rutgers defensive end and team captain Jamil Merrell has died at 36, according to a social media post from his twin brother, Jamal Merrell.
The cause of death was not immediately available.
Merrell played at Rutgers from 2009 through 2013 and appeared in 32 games for the Scarlet Knights under head coaches Greg Schiano and Kyle Flood. Over that span, he finished with 79 tackles, including 16 for loss, 8.5 sacks and one forced fumble.
In 2013, Merrell and his twin brother served as captains together, becoming the second set of brothers in program history to do so at the same time. The only other pair was George and Gabe Ludlow, who were captains in the 1893 season, 120 years earlier.
After going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Merrell had a short professional run. He spent time on the Chicago Bears’ practice squad and later played for Arena Football League teams in Los Angeles and Colorado.
Jamal Merrell announced his brother’s death Tuesday night in an emotional Instagram post, writing: “As I write this, I’m sitting beside my twin brother, surrounded by our family, knowing that we’re witnessing one of the hardest moments we’ll ever have to face. With tears in our eyes and love in our hearts, I want everyone to know that my twin brother, Jamil, is peacefully transitioning to be with God.”
He also shared the final words Jamil said to the family: “It’s time for me to level up, and everything down here for me is complete.”
Jamal continued: “If you were blessed enough to know Jamil, then you know exactly who he was. He loved with his whole heart.
He kept it real no matter who you were. He would give you the shirt off his back, tell you the truth even when it was hard to hear, and stand beside the people he loved no matter what.
He didn’t just live life he poured every ounce of himself into it.”
He closed the post by saying: “Today, heaven is gaining a warrior.”
And later: “Twin… from the very first heartbeat we shared, we’ve been side by side. We entered this world together, and it’s hard to imagine walking through it without you.
Thank you for every laugh, every argument, every memory, every lesson, and every moment. Thank you for being the best twin brother I could have ever asked God for.”
Jamal also wrote: “Watching you fight has been one of the most courageous things I’ve ever witnessed. You never complained.
You never quit. You stood 10 toes down through it all.
A true soldier. A true warrior.
You fought with everything you had until your very last breath.”
He added: “My heart is broken in a way I can’t even describe, but knowing you’re finally free from the pain gives me peace. No more suffering.
No more hospitals. No more hurting.
Just peace… the kind of peace you deserve.I love you more than these words could ever express, and a part of me will always be missing until we’re together again.”
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