Jamil Merrell, a former captain of the Rutgers University football team, has died at the age of 36, his twin brother announced. Jamal Merrell revealed his twin's final words, describing the family's experience as "one of the hardest moments we'll ever have to face."
"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,'" Jamal wrote in an Instagram post on Wednesday. "Those words will stay with me for the rest of my life."
The cause of Merrell's death has not been disclosed by the family. Jamal Merrell wrote about the lifelong bond with his twin, stating, "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."
He continued, "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 Merrell described his brother's battle as courageous, noting, "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."
Though his heart is broken, Jamal expressed peace knowing his brother is no longer suffering. "No more suffering. No more hospitals. No more hurting. Just peace… the kind of peace you deserve," he wrote. "I love you more than these words could ever express, and a part of me will always be missing until we’re together again."
Prior to his death, Jamil Merrell had been coaching at Red Lion Christian Academy in Delaware. A statement from the academy described him as inspirational, stating, "Coach Jamil’s heart, knowledge, and passion will forever be a part of our program. Coach Jamil touched countless lives in a deeply positive way, and he will forever be remembered as one of the greatest, most inspirational coaches and friends in our program’s history."
Merrell played for Rutgers from 2009 to 2013, starting 18 of 34 games. He recorded 81 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 16 tackles for a loss during his college career. He served as a co-captain with his brother in their senior season. After college, he signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears but did not play in an NFL game. He also played in the Fall Experimental Football League and other indoor leagues.