Green Bay Packers linebacker, Akron native Whitney Mercilus announces retirement from NFL

George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal
·1 min read
Former Garfield High School standout and Green Bay Packers linebacker Whitney Mercilus announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons Wednesday via his Instagram account. Mercilus played his first nine seasons with the Houston Texans.
Former Garfield High School standout and Green Bay Packers linebacker Whitney Mercilus announced his retirement from the NFL after 10 seasons Wednesday via his Instagram account. Mercilus played his first nine seasons with the Houston Texans.

After a 10-year NFL career, Akron native and Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Whitney Mercilus announced his retirement Wednesday via Instagram.

He made the announcement while prepping food for a cooking demonstration which he stated would be the first of many, including on Sundays.

"And if you couldn't tell by that, I'm hanging up the cleats," he said, "and I'm looking forward to the next chapter."

The Houston Texans drafted Mercilus in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft. He spent his first nine seasons with the Texans and played last season with the Packers.

The Texans selected Mercilus, who played at Garfield High School and the University of Illinois, with the 26th overall pick. The Browns passed on him twice in that draft, electing to take running back Trent Richardson (No. 3) and quarterback Brandon Weeden (No. 22) instead.

In his career, Mercilus racked up 340 tackles, including 58 sacks.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron's Whitney Mercilus hanging up NFL cleats