Kansas City Chiefs assistant coach Dave Merritt was charged with misdemeanor domestic battery on Thursday, shortly before the 2026 NFL Draft began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The charge, filed by the district attorney in Johnson County, Kansas, accuses Merritt of causing bodily harm to a daughter.
Merritt pleaded not guilty during a court appearance later on Thursday. The district judge set a $2,500 bond with conditions of no alcohol, drugs or firearms, and no contact with the victim.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid said the team has been in touch with Merritt and has looked into the situation. "We have been in touch with Dave. We understand the situation. We've looked into it," Reid said during a press conference. He added, "We continue to work back as they go through the investigation, but Dave is home with his family." Reid declined to take any questions about the arrest.
Merritt, 54, played linebacker in the NFL before becoming a defensive backs coach. He has been with the Chiefs since 2019 and has helped teams win five Super Bowls, including his time with the New York Giants.
The Chiefs selected cornerback Mansoor Delane with the sixth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, a pick acquired via a trade with the Cleveland Browns. Merritt will be Delane's position coach. The Chiefs also selected Clemson defensive tackle Peter Woods with the 29th pick. Reid said of the draft strategy, "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. That's the way we felt going in."
The specific nature of the alleged domestic battery incident remains unclear, as does the relationship between Merritt and the victim. It is not known whether Merritt will continue his coaching duties while the case is pending, and the timeline for the investigation and potential trial has not been disclosed. There is no public information about any prior legal issues or disciplinary actions involving Merritt.