Chiefs coach Dave Merritt charged with domestic battery of daughter

Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt has been charged with misdemeanour domestic battery following an incident involving his daughter.

Court documents obtained on Thursday reveal that Merritt was arrested in Overland Park, Kansas, on Wednesday evening.

A formal complaint filed by the Johnson County District Attorney's office alleges that the 54-year-old "unlawfully, knowingly, or recklessly" caused bodily harm to a person identified in the records as Drayah Merritt. Drayah is officially listed as one of Merritt’s two daughters on the Chiefs’ website.

The charge is classified as a "class B person misdemeanor," which the state of Kansas recognises as a domestic violence offence.

Merritt, a prominent figure in the Chiefs’ coaching staff, was released on bond following his Thursday morning arraignment.

The timing of the arrest coincides with the start of the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Chiefs hold two first-round selections.

The organisation has not yet issued a formal statement regarding Merritt’s legal status or his future with the team, though the league is expected to review the matter under its personal conduct policy.

Merritt is currently entering his eighth season with the Chiefs and his twenty-fifth year as an NFL coach. A former linebacker who played for the Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals, he previously earned three Super Bowl rings during a lengthy tenure with the New York Giants.

Merritt and his wife, Yolanda, share five children. This legal development follows a successful 2025 season where Merritt’s defensive unit was praised for its league-leading performance in pass breakups and interceptions.