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Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt has been charged with a misdemeanor count of domestic battery involving his daughter, according to court documents.
Merritt was arrested on April 22 in Overland Park, Kansas, and formally charged the following morning. A complaint filed by the Johnson County District Attorney's Office alleges that he unlawfully, knowingly, or recklessly caused bodily harm to a person identified as Drayah Merritt. She is listed on his official team biography as one of his two daughters, whom he shares with his wife Yolanda, along with three sons.
The charge is classified as a Class B person misdemeanor and is categorized as a domestic violence offense under Kansas law. Authorities have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding the alleged incident.
The Chiefs have not publicly commented on the situation. Requests for response have been made as the case continues to develop.
Merritt is preparing to enter his eighth season with Kansas City and has spent 25 years coaching in the NFL. Before joining the Chiefs, he held coaching roles with the New York Jets, New York Giants, and Arizona Cardinals. Prior to his coaching career, Merritt played professionally as a linebacker. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1993 and later spent three seasons with the Cardinals.
The timing of the charge comes just hours before the start of the 2026 NFL Draft, where the Chiefs are scheduled to make selections with the ninth and 29th overall picks. The development adds an unexpected off field issue for the organization at a critical moment in the league calendar.
As the legal process moves forward, further updates are expected regarding both the case and any potential response from the team or the league.
