As a graduate of Idaho State University with a degree in education and a minor in health and fitness, Merril was a four year starter who set 44 school and conference records and two NCAA football records, one for most receptions by a running back in a season and the other for most receptions by a back for a career once he left for the NFL.

​

In 1987 Merril made his childhood dream a reality when he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he played until 1993 and led the team in rushing and receiving in four of his first five years, setting a record in his third year for receptions by a running back. Along with Franco Harris, he is one of only two Steelers players to rush for 100 yards or more in back-to-back playoff games. He was the Steelers Iron Man of the year two years in a row (1989 and 1990) and was named to the All-Madden team in 1989. In 1994, Merril went to the Chicago Bears as a free agent, where he played for one year until he was forced to retire after improper care of head trauma he sustained on a Monday night game in Kansas City.

​

At the time of his retirement, Merril had the longest consecutive playing streak in the NFL at 122 games. In 2022 Merril retuned to the Steelers and was able to continue doing what he loves most, studying coaching tape and making evaluations of players transitioning to the NFL for the Steeler’s Scouting department and pro evaluation department. Scouting was a great transition from the Your Call Football league he helped build as a Head Coach and director of the league.