Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Dave Merritt has been charged with misdemeanor domestic battery following a complaint filed by the district attorney in Johnson County, Kansas, accusing him of causing bodily harm to his daughter. The 54-year-old Merritt pleaded not guilty during a court appearance on Thursday, and the district judge set a $2,500 bond with conditions prohibiting alcohol, drugs, firearms, and contact with the alleged victim.
Merritt, a former NFL linebacker, has built a reputation as one of the league's top defensive backs coaches. Since joining the Chiefs in 2019, and during his tenure with the New York Giants, he has helped teams secure five Super Bowl victories. The charges emerged on the same day as the 2026 NFL Draft, which began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid addressed the situation briefly, stating, "We have been in touch with Dave. We understand the situation. We've looked into it." Reid confirmed that Merritt is at home with his family as the investigation continues, but declined to answer further questions about the arrest. The Chiefs used their first-round draft picks, including the sixth overall selection, to acquire cornerback Mansoor Delane from LSU via a trade with the Cleveland Browns, and later picked Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods with the 29th pick.
Reid emphasized the team's focus on strengthening their defense, saying, "I thought it was important that we address the defense. That's an important side of the ball, as much as I love the offense. We had some vacancies there that we needed to take care of."
