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Chiefs DBs coach Dave Merritt arrested, charged with domestic battery

By Thomson Reuters Apr 23, 2026 | 2:13 PM

Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt was arrested and charged with misdemeanor domestic ​battery on Wednesday night.

Merritt, ‌54, was arrested on Wednesday night and booked into the Johnson County jail, the Kansas City Star reported.

Per the report, ‌the ​Johnson County District ⁠Attorney’s Office filed a ⁠complaint and accused Merritt of “unlawfully, knowingly, or recklessly” causing bodily harm to a daughter, which is ​the basis for domestic charges filed Thursday morning in Missouri.

A ⁠spokesman for the Chiefs ⁠told the Kansas City ​Star that the team is aware of ​Merritt’s arrest and has no ‌comment.

Merritt is due in court on Thursday, the same day as the first round of the NFL ⁠Draft in Pittsburgh.

He served as a defensive position coach with the New York Jets, ⁠New ‌York Giants and Arizona ⁠Cardinals before joining the Chiefs ​in ‌2019.

A college linebacker, Merritt ​was drafted ⁠by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He also played with then-Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals during his brief career.

–Field ​Level Media