Former Team Captain Has Tragically Passed Away at 36 Years Old

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Former Rutgers football captain Jamil Merrell has tragically passed away. The college football community is collectively mourning a truly devastating loss this week.

Merrell tragically passed away at the young age of 36. His twin brother and former collegiate teammate, Jamal, shared the heartbreaking news through an emotional social media message.

The deeply moving statement confirmed that the beloved former defensive standout passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family members.

Heartbreaking Final Words Shared By Jamil Merrell

While his brother did not publicly disclose an official cause of death, he heavily emphasized his twin’s incredible bravery. Before his passing, Jamil Merrell looked at his grieving family and delivered a powerful final message. He told them that his work down here was completely finished, and it was time to level up. His family described his lengthy health battle as one of the most courageous things they had ever witnessed.

“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 Wednesday in an Instagram post.

“Those words will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

Unexpected tragedies involving young athletes consistently shake communities.

His brother stated that the defensive leader loved people with his whole heart and always kept it completely real. He was the type of person who would give anyone the shirt off his own back.

Exceptional Gridiron Legacy Left By Jamil

The talented Delaware native originally put together an incredibly decorated collegiate career while playing for the Scarlet Knights from 2009 through 2013. He appeared in 34 total games, notably racking up 81 career tackles and 8.5 sacks. Alongside his twin, the duo made history by becoming the first brothers to serve as team captains together in 120 years. Following his collegiate days, he signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent.

However, he did not appear in an NFL game. Jamil Merrell also signed with the Brooklyn Bolts of the Fall Experimental League. Following that, he was on the Los Angeles KISS of the Arena Football League and the Colorado Crush of the Indoor Football League.