Tragedy struck the Rutgers football program this week as Jamil Merrell, the school's former team captain, passed away this week. He was 36 years old.
On Tuesday, Merrell's twin brother Jamal Merrell took to Instagram and announced that the former Rutgers captain passed away. Details of Merrell's passing were not disclosed, but he was surrounded by family.
Here's the full statement from Jamal Merrell:
"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," Merrell wrote.
"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.' 💪🏾
"Those words will stay with me for the rest of my life.
"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.
"Today, heaven is gaining a warrior.
"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.
"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. 💪🏾✅
"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.
"BJ… I know you’re waiting for him with open arms. Love y’all boys forreal ❤️ I’ll keep making you both proud until God says it’s my time to level up too.
"Rest easy, Twin. Your work here is done. You finished your race with honor, strength, and faith.
"I love you forever twin. See you when I level up."
Fans and alumni took to X to offer their condolences:
"I’m so sorry, Mal. He was one of the most passionate competitors I ever had the honor of sharing the field with. 'Hard work - that’s all it is.'"
"This is heartbreaking 💔 Coach Mil was very impactful to everyone around him. Me and my brother always have said throughout the years how he was one of the best coaches we’ve ever had. Not only was he a coach, he was also a friend. @jmerrell37 Praying for your brother and your family."
"The greatest to ever to it. A leader of men and the best coach I’ve ever had. Will never forget the early morning work and the lessons you’ve shared with me. Always was and forever will be an honor to have been a student of coach Mil, rest easy coach."
"He was an amazing human. Touching so many, shaping so many young people. Living life to the fullest potential. I pray Junior will always know how much his Daddy loved him to the depths of his soul. Prayers to your and your family that you find peace in knowing that he may be gone from this earth but he lives inside of every single person he touched and he now looks over us all."
Icon Sportswire/Getty Images
A Star in Scarlet
From 2011 to 2013, Merrell played 32 games for the Scarlet Knights, making 79 tackles, 16.0 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks during the team's transition from the Big East to the American Athletic Conference.
Following his college career, Merrell went undrafted and spent two seasons on the Chicago Bears' practice squad. From there, he played football for a couple of indoor leagues before calling it quits and going into coaching.
