Former Packers pass rusher Whitney Mercilus announces he's retiring after 10 seasons in the NFL with an upbeat message

JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
·2 min read
Defensive end Whitney Mercilus (50) celebrates his sack of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson during a game last season. Mercilus, who the Packers acquired mid-season last year, announced his retirement today after 10 years in the NFL.
Defensive end Whitney Mercilus (50) celebrates his sack of Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson during a game last season. Mercilus, who the Packers acquired mid-season last year, announced his retirement today after 10 years in the NFL.
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Whitney Mercilus, a pass rusher who signed with the Green Bay Packers during the 2021 season and briefly brought some thump to the defense before injury, announced he was retiring after 10 NFL seasons with an Instagram post that featured his family, memorabilia from his career and some mouth-watering offerings on the grill.

It's tailgate season, after all.

"We've got some delicious stuff that's going to be put on this grill," Mercilus said in the video. "It's the first of many (grilling sessions) that's going to be on Sundays. If you can't already tell by that, I've decided I'm hanging up the cleats and I'm looking forward to the next chapter of my life."

Mercilus played in four regular-season games before suffering a torn bicep that was believed to be a season-ending injury, though he was able to return in time for the Packers' playoff loss to San Francisco. He made an impact in his limited work, as you can see in the video with the two game balls he secured for wins over Seattle and Arizona.

Mercilus, who played the bulk of his career with the Houston Texans, finished with a sack and five tackles last season. Houston released the former second-team All-Pro in October.

"What really means a lot to me is spending more quality time with family," adding that he also wants to continue his work with his "WithMerci" organization that supports Houston-area families who have children with special needs. "Don't be sad. I'm happy. You should be happy. We should all be wearing a smile as well, too. 'No Merci' doesn't just stop on the field, but it also happens off the field, too."

JR Radcliffe can be reached at (262) 361-9141 or jradcliffe@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JRRadcliffe.

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Green Bay Packers' Whitney Mercilus announces retirement