#ad It was an honor to visit JBSA-Randolph with @USAA and witness a K-9 unit in action. I even got the chance to go head-to-head with @joethomas73 in a ‘K-9 40’! Thanks to the military working dogs & their handlers for their service. #USAApartner #SalutetoService pic.twitter.com/Qsq1fU6Y5L
— Whitney Mercilus (@Merci380) July 27, 2023
Whitney Mercilus took hits every Sunday in the NFL from 2012-21, but nothing could prepare him for a recent meeting with K-9 units.
Mercilus joined soon-to-be Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Joe Thomas to salute the military at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio. The two former NFL players were taking part in a “day in the life” experience as part of USAA’s Salute to Service — and that meant getting attacked by K-9s.
“It was absolutely an experience to get into the nitty gritty and to go through that training regimen,” Mercilus said. “The ferocity of the dogs, you couldn’t envision it. They are — as soon as they see a target, they are gone. They do their job. They execute it really well.”
Thomas and Mercilus stood in training gear and pretended to be perps and tried to see how far they could get away before being taken down by the K-9s.
“To be on the receiving end of it, I’ve always seen it on TV, and to actually be able to do it was a dream come true,” said Mercilus. “I will say it’s a little strange, but really that was an experience to know how powerful those dogs bites really are.”
Mercilus, who says he has been looking for new opportunities to experience in his life after the NFL, believed the outing was “perfect.” The only regret he has is not taking part in the experience during his playing days in the offseason.
Said Mercilus: “Should have loaded up and tried to run away from a dog. My speed could have got a lot faster.”
USAA is the official NFL Salute to Service partner.