Jamil Merrell and his twin, Jamal, served as captains of the team in 2013
Credit: AP
NEED TO KNOW
- Former Rutgers football player Jamil Merrell has died at the age of 36
- Merrell’s twin brother announced Jamil’s death
- The twins served as captains for the Scarlet Knights in 2013
Former Rutgers football captain Jamil Merrell has died at the age of 36, his twin brother Jamal announced.
“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,” Jamal wrote on Instagram on Tuesday, July 7. “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 continued, “Before this moment, he looked at us with peace and said, ‘It’s time for me to level up, and everything down here for me is complete.’ ”
Merrell’s cause of death was not immediately known.
Credit: Cal Sport Media via AP
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Merrell played defensive end and linebacker for the Scarlet Knights from 2009 through 2013, where he appeared in 34 career games with 18 starts over four seasons. He amassed 81 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 16 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and four pass breakups, according to the university.
Along with his brother, he served as a captain in 2013, becoming the second pair of brothers to simultaneously serve as captains in the school’s history, according to NJ.com.
The Delaware native went on to play professionally, for the Chicago Bears on their practice squad and in the Arena Football League, before transitioning to coaching. He was a sports performance coach and defensive coordinator at Red Lion Christian Academy in Bear, Del.
In his social media post, Jamal mourned his twin, whom he called “a true soldier, a true warrior.”
“Watching you fight has been one of the most courageous things I’ve ever witnessed,” he wrote. “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.”
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